F5 Distributed Cloud Services to support SoftBank’s implementation of 5G Multi-access Edge Computing
SEATTLE & TOKYO – (BUSINESS WIRE) – F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) announced partnership with SoftBank Corp. to provide advanced Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) services in Japan and international markets. SoftBank began nationwide implementation of MEC for 5G SA (5G MEC) in May 2022 in Japan and has selected F5 Distributed Cloud Services to host and protect MEC applications for utility cases such as IoT, smart buildings, smart retail, gaming and AR / VR. F5’s cloud-based services will form the basis for a low-latency, high-quality and secure application communication environment through leading cloud technology that supports SoftBank’s efforts to promote digital transformation and the realization of a digital twin model in various companies and organizations.
F5 Distributed Cloud Services can be quickly implemented to provide platform-based managed cloud services and offer consistent support for IT, enterprise and 5G applications. F5 solutions adopted by SoftBank will enable enterprise customers to move more of their business-critical applications to more edge locations and enjoy the benefits of reduced latency, improved security and flexible application implementation. F5 Distributed Cloud Services delivers the operational simplicity of a single console, providing agile scalability and integrated and automated security features for all the features required for 5G MEC sites.
F5 Distributed Cloud Services delivers advanced automation for application implementation and network connectivity that meets the most challenging requirements regarding application availability, performance and security. This provides a distributed cloud environment to enable faster service delivery, improved fault tolerance and simplified application development and testing. The expected reductions in timelines for application implementation and time to market are significant and will benefit not only SoftBank, but customers from a wide range of industries for use situations such as autonomous driving, smart building management, factory automation, multi-user network games and others.
Key benefits of F5 distributed cloud services:
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High-performance, agile distributed cloud platform
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Fast integration and zero-touch implementation of demanding enterprise applications
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State-of-the-art networking and security to connect and protect edge applications
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Single monitoring point for end-to-end application and infrastructure lifecycle management
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Dynamic platform scaling, simple operation and automation to support thousands of edge sites
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Design focused on a DevSecOps mindset with all the features that can be configured from a single console
SoftBank has used F5 Distributed Cloud Services for internal applications as part of its transformative modernization plan, where today’s announcement represents an expansion of the services for the benefit of their customers. Distributed cloud services have been developed to support all applications and related features relevant to service providers, including internal IT applications, enterprise workloads, partners’ content and services, and even networking features.
With 5G, network elements are being rebuilt to take advantage of the latest cloud innovations. Many monolithic network approaches will be replaced by cloud-native networking features that take advantage of the same operational models used in public clouds. F5 Distributed Cloud Services delivers automated network operations to features such as 5G Core and Radio Access Network (RAN), which deliver network and security on an integrated cloud-native platform.
F5 and SoftBank are collaborating to move the industry forward with new technological developments that will revolutionize the way mobile and fixed services are delivered to end users. A recent example is the use of Segment Routing version 6 Mobile User Plane (SRv6 MUP), where F5 offers a module to support partners’ 5G networking features that require SRv6 to communicate. More details can be found here.
Keiichi Makizono, Senior Vice President and CIO of SoftBank Corp., said:
“Our work with F5 to build and manage an unprecedented edge computing environment is critical to our customers’ digital transformation success. F5 has demonstrated that it can address crucial operational challenges for service providers looking to take full advantage of cloud innovation. IT, enterprise and 5G applications. We look forward to continuing to work with F5 to develop low latency capabilities that leverage MEC’s strengths to deliver faster and more flexible services. ”
Ankur Singla, Senior Vice President, Security & Distributed Cloud Product Group at F5, said:
“It is remarkable how SoftBank is committed to enabling the digital transformation of companies and organizations across all sectors, and we are honored to have been chosen as their cloud partner in this goal. F5 has worked closely with SoftBank in Japan for over 15 years, and we continue to realize new innovations through co-creation efforts and an interdisciplinary collaboration.We share SoftBank’s vision where modern applications must be seamlessly integrated with cloud operations across corporate boundaries to create exceptional end-user experiences. to further enable SoftBank to execute on this shared vision by exploring the potential for additional cloud-native use cases in 5G / 6G services and other areas. ”
At the same time, F5 announces new opportunities for its distributed cloud services and will present its security portfolio at next week’s RSA conference in San Francisco.
About F5
F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) is a multi-cloud application security and delivery company that enables our customers – which include the world’s largest companies, financial institutions, service providers and governments – to bring extraordinary digital experiences to life. For more information, go to f5.com. You can also follow @ F5 on Twitter or visit us on LinkedIn and Facebook for more information on F5, its partners and technologies.
F5 is a trademark, service mark or trade name of F5, Inc., in the United States and other countries. All other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Source: F5, Inc.
Contact persons
Teri Daley
F5
(469) 939-3712
t.daley@f5.com
Caitlin Valtierra
WE communication
(212) 551-4858
cvaltierra@we-worldwide.com
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