Airtel Africa, a leading telecommunications service provider, has announced a ground-breaking expansion of its service portfolio in collaboration with Cisco. The strategic partnership aims to empower businesses to seamlessly embark on their digital transformation journey by offering Net-as-a-Service (NaaS) solutions across various service platforms.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Airtel Africa noted that it recognizes the growing need for businesses to accelerate their operations without the additional task of building or managing network infrastructure hence NaaS offerings which include an array of services such as enhanced security, surveillance, connectivity, cloud solutions, all delivered through a secure cloud platform.
Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) represents a
paradigm shift in how organizations consume network infrastructure, allowing
users to operate networks efficiently without the need to own, build, or
maintain physical infrastructure. This innovative approach reduces the
challenges associated with traditional network models, including capital
expenses, manual service provisioning, and lengthy issue-resolution processes.
Airtel Africa's NaaS offerings, powered by Cisco's
cutting-edge Catalyst and Meraki cloud-based platforms, promise to
revolutionize connectivity for businesses of all sizes. The solutions are
designed to replace hardware-centric VPNs, load balancers, firewall appliances,
and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) connections. With the flexibility to scale
up or down based on demand, rapid service deployment, and reduction of hardware
costs, Airtel Africa and Cisco are reshaping the future of business
connectivity.
"As Africa
transitions digitally, businesses will require a fusion of connectivity, mobility,
security, and cloud into a service offering for every business irrespective of
geographical spread or operational needs," remarked Oliver Fortuin, CEO of
Airtel Business Africa. "Airtel Africa NaaS also allows a managed service
option, enabling Airtel Africa to fully manage the daily operational
requirements of supporting such infrastructure as growth accelerates."
The NaaS offerings will be accessible to all business
customers, including small businesses, as well as global customers with
operations worldwide. Airtel Africa and Cisco Systems are committed to
facilitating a smooth digital transition for businesses, providing them with
the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly connected world.
“At Cisco, we believe that every
organization would benefit from simplifying powerful technology,” said Vish Iyer,
President, Service Provider, Asia Pacific and Japan, Cisco. “Together with Airtel Africa, we are
reducing networking complexities and securely connecting the world through
Network-as-a-Service. This innovative approach is a great option for businesses
wanting to shift to a cloud operating model without a heavy lift. Our
partnership with Airtel Africa marks a pivotal moment as we
pledge to deliver the majority of our cutting-edge technology portfolio to
businesses across the continent in the most simplified, flexible manner
imaginable: cloud-driven, cloud-delivered, cloud-managed, offered as-a-service,
and, above all, fortified with unparalleled security."
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye