Virtually every day I read at least one story about a telecommunications service that is now available in the cloud. Though it's certainly not a new approach—in fact, we've been delivering wireless services through the Interop Cloud℠ since our founding more than a decade ago—it's both a popular buzzword and a strategy that has grown dramatically over the past couple of years.
For regional mobile network operators in particular, a cloud deployment just makes sense. The cloud lets operators deliver in-demand services much more quickly—and economically—than in-network solutions can allow. In fact, companies choosing a cloud solution reduced their three-year total cost of ownership by 54 percent compared to an in-network option, according to an IDC white paper.
Given the ever-changing nature of technology and the rapid pace of service evolution, a cloud deployment also minimizes the risk associated with launching new services and can scale as needed over time. Cloud customers are also assured of having the latest available software. And with day-to-day management left to their cloud services provider, regional operators without a large technical staff can divert these resources to other mission-critical activities.
Clearly the benefits of the cloud are numerous, and plenty of service providers are offering this option. When evaluating cloud services, be sure to ask:
- What is the provider's experience in the cloud?
- Does the provider deliver telco-grade reliability?
- How does the provider ensure the security of your data?
- What value-added services support day-to-day operations associated with the cloud service?
- Does the provider offer geographic redundancy?
At Interop, we like to say that we were in the cloud before the cloud was cool. Take a look at our Solutions pages to learn more about our cloud-based options.
