Cloud Native Progress and Pain Points According to Orange

Four years ago, the idea of cloud native in telecom was mostly aspirational—an ambitious leap from legacy architectures toward agility, automation, and scale. Today, while the journey is well underway, the destination is still far off.

At the recent Telco to Techco session, Philippe Ensarguet, VP of Software Engineering at Orange, took to the stage to assess the industry's real progress—and expose where it’s still struggling.

Telcos Are Still Caught Between Two Worlds

Many telecom functions are now containerised, but Philippe makes it clear: that doesn’t mean they’re cloud native.

“The ‘C’ in CNF must stand for Cloud Native, not just Container.”

Cloud native isn’t just a new way to package software—it’s a new way of building, deploying, and managing it. And that shift is proving to be far more complex than simply adopting Kubernetes or moving to public cloud.

Legacy virtualised network functions (VNFs) weren’t built for the dynamic, distributed nature of cloud platforms. Trying to retrofit them often results in complexity without the expected benefits.

What’s Working: Areas of Maturity

Despite the challenges, some progress is undeniable:

✅ Infrastructure Automation

Telcos like Orange have built robust cloud native platforms based on open technologies. The ability to scale infrastructure efficiently and reliably is now a reality.

✅ GitOps & Lifecycle Management

Cloud native lifecycle tooling—especially GitOps—is maturing. Orange, for example, manages diverse vendors through a unified GitOps-based integration platform called Network Integration Factory Tooling Zone.

✅ Open Source Participation

Open ecosystems are no longer optional—they’re essential. Orange is actively involved in Project Sylva (under Linux Foundation Europe) to define open, telco-grade cloud infrastructure.

What’s Still Holding Us Back

🛑 Skills Gap

Cloud native demands both hard skills (microservices, APIs, automation) and soft skills (agile mindsets, DevOps culture). These aren’t always easy to find—or to develop—in traditional telco teams.

🛑 Vendor Maturity

While some vendors are rearchitecting their software, others are just lifting old VNFs into containers. Philippe emphasises that cloud native transformation must go deeper.

🛑 Distributed Complexity

Managing services across private cloud, edge, and public cloud creates orchestration challenges. Real-time and asynchronous network functions must coexist—something telcos still struggle with operationally.

Why Cloud Native Still Matters

Despite the friction, the reasons to go cloud native haven’t changed. If anything, they’re more relevant than ever:

• Scalability for on-demand growth
• Agility for faster feature rollout
• Resilience for improved service continuity
• Efficiency to reduce infrastructure and operational costs
• Innovation via open APIs and open source ecosystems
• Multi-cloud flexibility and reduced vendor lock-in

Final Word

Philippe’s closing message was both grounded and optimistic. Yes, the journey is complex and sometimes slow—but cloud native is no longer a buzzword. It’s becoming the backbone of the telco techco transformation.

“The next few years will be about closing the gap—not just between CNFs and legacy systems, but between ambition and execution.”

A detailed article is available on Mobile Europe website here. The video of the conversation is embedded below:

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Rogers, Bell, Telus... and Freedom? Mapping the Future of Canadian Mobile

The Canadian telecommunications market continues to experience steady growth as operators focus on network upgrades. A significant portion of their investments has been directed toward LTE infrastructure to meet the increasing consumer demand for mobile data services, alongside further investments in 5G technology. Regulatory initiatives have supported these investment efforts by ensuring operators have access to the necessary spectrum for 5G development. Spectrum in the 600MHz and 3.5GHz bands has already been auctioned, with additional auctions planned through 2024. Notably, in the 3.5GHz band, the regulator allocated 50MHz exclusively for new entrants to foster competition in the wireless market.

Mobile penetration in Canada remains relatively low compared to global standards, providing substantial growth potential. Canada is the world’s second largest country by area, and all that space leaves cell phone coverage stretched pretty thin. Less than 30 percent of Canada’s geographic area is covered by Bell, Rogers, or Telus. Much of the Canadian landscape is sparsely populated, and those areas tend to have less service. However Canadians enjoy extensive LTE and LTE-A infrastructure, with major operators achieving approximately 99% population coverage despite geographical challenges and the remoteness of certain areas. In the 5G segment, Telus and Bell Wireless were early adopters, with Shaw Communications joining the field in May 2018. Currently, operators offer 5G coverage to around 70% of the population.

To promote competition, the government has reserved specific spectrum blocks for new market entrants and restricted agreements among operators that would lead to regional or national spectrum concentration. For instance, about 43% of the spectrum auctioned in the 600MHz band has been set aside for smaller operators to encourage a more competitive market landscape.

One of the most significant developments in promoting competition came from the Rogers–Shaw merger, which led to the divestiture of Freedom Mobile to Quebecor-owned Vidéotron. This move was mandated by regulators to preserve market competitiveness and has positioned Freedom as the fourth national carrier. Under new ownership, Freedom Mobile now benefits from enhanced spectrum holdings and access to national roaming agreements, enabling it to expand its reach beyond traditional strongholds in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. With new pricing strategies and 5G rollout plans, Freedom is emerging as a more formidable alternative to the Big Three, especially in urban markets.

Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 40.44 million cellular mobile connections in Canada at the start of 2024. However, note that many people around the world make use of more than one mobile connection – for example, they might have one connection for personal use, and another one for work – so it’s not unusual for mobile connection figures to significantly exceed figures for total population.

GSMA Intelligence’s numbers indicate that mobile connections in Canada were equivalent to 103.8 percent of the total population in January 2024. The number of mobile connections in Canada increased by 1.8 million (+4.7 percent) between the start of 2023 and the start of 2024.

According the most recent OpenSignal report on Canada: mobile operator Rogers continues to win the most awards, either joint or outright, taking home five total wins. Not only does Rogers win both national awards for consistency, Reliability Experience and Consistent Quality, it also does well regionally, topping the leaderboard for Consistent Quality and Reliability Experience in five and six provinces, respectively.

In terms of awards won, Bell is hot on Rogers’ heels, just one total win separates the two. Bell performs especially well for the two coverage metrics, both nationally and regionally. Bell is a joint winner for Coverage Experience in all seven regions examined and shares the top spot for Availability in all but British Columbia. Telus wins two awards this time around, both joint victories with Bell, and performs well regionally for Games Experience, Download Speed Experience and Coverage Experience.

Bell has Canada’s largest 4G network, meaning customers are unlikely to fall back to 3G coverage.

Most of Bell’s coverage focuses on Canada’s major urban centres: every big city in the country is blanketed by the network. Alberta and Saskatchewan are particularly well-represented by Bell’s coverage.

Outside of their cell phone network, Bell also has customers covered with more than 4,000 Wifi hotspots across the country. The company’s wireless signal can be found in every province, although more remote areas have little to no coverage.

Bell Canada uses the 20–80 MHz and 10–100 MHz bands for its 5G network. Bell 5G+ is Bell's next-generation 5G network, which uses the 3500 MHz spectrum.  Bell 5G+ is available to over 51% of the Canadian population and is expected to be fully deployed in the coming years. Bell claims that its 5G network is the fastest in Canada, with average download speeds of 158.7 Mbps.

Rogers’ network covers less than 20% of Canada by area but but reaches 97 percent of the country’s population, thanks to prominent placement in all major urban centres. Its biggest weak point is its limited coverage in the country’s less densely populated provinces, namely the Maritimes and the Territories.

Rogers Communications launched Canada's first 5G network in January 2020, initially deploying in major cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Partnering with Ericsson, Rogers has since expanded its 5G coverage to over 2,200 communities, reaching 31 million Canadians and providing more coverage than any other 5G network in the country. In December 2020, Rogers began rolling out its standalone (SA) 5G core network in select markets, enhancing network capabilities and performance. By March 2022, it claimed the first commercial 5G SA launch in Canada. 

The company has also been at the forefront of technological advancements, conducting the first successful test of 5G network slicing in Canada in early 2023, with plans for commercial deployment to support various applications. 

Rogers utilizes a range of frequency bands for its 5G services, including 600MHz (n71), 2.5GHz (n41), and 3.5GHz (n78), to balance coverage and capacity.  In June 2022, the company activated its 3500MHz 5G services, further enhancing network performance.  Additionally, in November 2023, Rogers secured nationwide 3.8GHz spectrum in Canada's third 5G spectrum auction, positioning the company for future network enhancements. 

The company's commitment to expanding and enhancing its 5G network underscores its dedication to providing Canadians with reliable and advanced wireless services. Rogers said it has invested over CAD 40 billion in its networks over the last decade, including CAD 4 billion in capital investments in 2024. 

Many Canadians may not realize that Bell and Telus use the same cell phone towers across the country. That means Telus’ coverage also reaches every province, every urban area in Canada, and 99% of the population.

Telus’ Mobility network typically performs slightly faster than Bell’s, so Telus has a reputation for reliability. Telus covers 28.8% of Canada by area –the same as Bell and nearly 10 percent higher than Rogers.

Telus launched its 5G network in 2020 and has since expanded coverage to major markets like Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. The company has partnered with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung to build its 5G infrastructure. Telus’ 5G Standalone (SA) network, introduced in 2023, offers enhanced speeds, reduced latency, and new opportunities for smart city applications and IoT solutions.

Canada’s mobile operators are working tirelessly to expand and improve their networks, with a significant focus on 5G technology. Rogers, Bell, and Telus lead the market in terms of coverage and technological advancements, while smaller operators like Freedom Mobile and Videotron provide competitive alternatives in select regions. As 5G continues to evolve, Canadians can look forward to faster speeds, more reliable connections, and innovative applications that enhance everyday life

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Deutsche Telekom wants to simplify IoT Connectivity via MECC (Make Everything Cellular Connected)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming industries, but device manufacturers often face significant challenges when integrating cellular connectivity into their products. To address this, Deutsche Telekom (DT) has introduced MECC – Make Everything Cellular Connected, a solution designed to streamline and simplify IoT connectivity. By embedding cellular modules directly into devices during production, MECC eliminates the need for complex modem integrations and reduces entry barriers for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

IoT Integration, Straight from the Factory

Traditionally, adding cellular connectivity to IoT devices required manufacturers to retrofit devices with modems, SIMs, and connectivity management platforms. This process added complexity, time, and cost. MECC offers a radically simplified approach:

• Pre-installed connectivity: Cellular modules with embedded nuSIMs are directly integrated into products during manufacturing.
• Smart Standby Mode: Connectivity is only activated when needed, such as for remote configuration or device status updates. This minimises ongoing costs and optimises energy efficiency.
• Heartbeat and Dormant Tariffs: Manufacturers can choose basic standby connectivity plans during production, activating full IoT plans when the device is in use. This flexibility reduces the economic risk of mass-producing connected devices.

Partnerships Driving Adoption

Deutsche Telekom has teamed up with Nordic Semiconductor and PSsystec to bring MECC to market. Nordic Semiconductor’s IoT modules provide the hardware foundation, while PSsystec has incorporated MECC into its product range, enabling cellular connectivity out of the box.

At MWC 2025, DT showcased how MECC makes it easier and more cost-effective for manufacturers to integrate cellular connectivity without dealing with complex hardware configurations. During the session, industry leaders such as Dennis Nikles (CEO, Deutsche Telekom IoT) and Oyvind Birkenes (EVP, Nordic Semiconductor) highlighted how MECC reduces development time and provides scalable IoT solutions.

The video of the session is embedded below:

Reducing Complexity, Increasing Flexibility

One of the key benefits of MECC is its flexibility for both manufacturers and end-users:

• For manufacturers: By embedding IoT modules during production, OEMs avoid the need for time-consuming and costly retrofitting. Devices leave the factory connectivity-ready, with the option to activate full IoT functionality later.
• For end-users: Devices can be remotely configured, updated, and monitored from day one, enabling manufacturers to offer enhanced services such as predictive maintenance or usage-based pricing models.

Lower Costs, Faster Time-to-Market

With MECC, DT offers graduated hardware pricing models, allowing manufacturers to install IoT modules in mass production without incurring full connectivity costs upfront. For example:

• Standby connectivity costs as little as €10 per year per device, with the option to upgrade to a full IoT Business LPWA data plan when needed.
• The integrated nuSIM eliminates the need for physical SIMs, saving space and reducing power consumption.

A Milestone for IoT

By pre-installing cellular connectivity at the manufacturing stage, Deutsche Telekom’s MECC solution significantly lowers the barriers to IoT adoption. It offers manufacturers a flexible, cost-efficient way to bring connected products to market faster while enabling new service models. As IoT adoption accelerates, solutions like MECC will play a vital role in driving scalability and innovation across industries.

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Moldova's Telecom Evolution: From Legacy Networks to 5G Futures

Moldova, a small Eastern European nation, has developed a robust telecommunications sector, achieving extensive coverage in both wired and wireless communications. The country's compact size has facilitated the rapid expansion of mobile networks, ensuring that even remote areas have access to telephony services.

Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 4.24 million cellular mobile connections in Moldova at the start of 2024. However, note that many people around the world make use of more than one mobile connection – for example, they might have one connection for personal use, and another one for work – so it’s not unusual for mobile connection figures to significantly exceed figures for total population.

GSMA Intelligence’s numbers indicate that mobile connections in Moldova were equivalent to 125.8 percent of the total population in January 2024. The number of mobile connections in Moldova increased by 946 (+0.02 percent) between the start of 2023 and the start of 2024.

Despite a wave of 3G shutdowns across Europe, many users continue to rely heavily on legacy 3G and 2G networks. These outdated technologies present unique challenges for operators and regulators seeking to modernize infrastructure while minimizing user disruption. According to OpenSignal Moldova has the highest Time on 2G/3G networks. 

Moldova’s telecom market is primarily dominated by three key players: Moldcell, Orange, and Moldtelecom.

Orange Moldova is a subsidiary of the French telecommunications company Orange and offers a wide range of mobile services.

According to nPerf Orange has emerged as a co-leader in 2024, with exceptional performance in Download bitrate and Latency, marking it as a key player in these categories. The operator also leads in Browsing, showcasing its robust capabilities in providing a seamless user experience. Orange has made substantial contributions to the market’s competitive landscape.

Established in 2000, Moldcell has been a prominent player in Moldova's mobile industry. In April 2024, marking its 24th anniversary.

Moldcell has solidified its position as a co-leader with a notable improvement in its overall score. The operator leads in Upload bitrate and shines in Video streaming, demonstrating its strength in these areas. Moldcell also maintains a strong focus on 4G, where it is the undisputed leader. Users benefit from enhanced streaming and upload capabilities, making it ideal for content creators and heavy data users.

Operating since 2007, Moldtelecom, may not be a market leader but is gaining ground and has a reliable network. 

Currently, all operators have isolated pockets of 5G coverage. However, with ANRCETI launching an auction in October 2024 for spectrum across 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, 3600 MHz, and 26 GHz bands, the introduction of 5G in these frequencies is set to significantly enhance the user experience.

NTT Docomo's Beyond 5G and 6G Vision

NTT Docomo has been at the forefront of Beyond 5G and 6G research, exploring how emerging technologies will shape the future of mobile networks. In this post, I’m sharing insights from two recent keynotes by NTT Docomo executives, highlighting their vision for AI, Big Data, and next-generation connectivity.

6G Promotion and AI Utilization – Takaaki Sato, Brooklyn 6G Summit

Takaaki Sato, Senior Executive Vice President at NTT Docomo, delivered a keynote at the Brooklyn 6G Summit, discussing "6G Promotion and Prospects for AI Utilization." His talk explored how AI will be deeply integrated into 6G networks, moving beyond the siloed approach seen in 5G. Watch the keynote below:

AI-Native 5G Evolution and 6G – Takehiro Nakamura, FutureNet Asia 2024

For a more technical perspective, Takehiro Nakamura, Chief Standardization Officer at NTT Docomo, spoke at FutureNet Asia 2024 on "AI-Native 5G Evolution and 6G." His presentation delved into the role of AI and Big Data in network evolution and how 6G will leverage advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and performance. Watch his presentation here:

The Path to 6G: AI, Big Data, and the IOWN All-Photonics Network

A key theme in both keynotes was the convergence of AI and Big Data, which were largely separate in 5G but will be deeply intertwined in 6G. NTT Docomo envisions this integration—along with the IOWN All-Photonics Network—enhancing human experiences and driving innovation.

As the industry moves towards 6G, it’s clear that AI and network intelligence will play a foundational role in shaping next-generation connectivity. What are your thoughts on NTT Docomo’s vision? Share your comments below!

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Telecom Trends in Trinidad and Tobago: Digicel and bmobile in the 5G Race

Trinidad and Tobago is a twin-island nation in the southern Caribbean, known for its vibrant Carnival celebrations and rich musical heritage, including calypso, soca, and the steelpan. Trinidad, the larger island, is an industrial hub with significant oil and gas resources, while Tobago is famed for its stunning beaches, coral reefs, and lush rainforests. The country’s diverse cultural tapestry reflects influences from African, Indian, European, and indigenous peoples, and its official language is English.

Trinidad and Tobago, boasts a competitive telecommunications market. Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 2.02 million cellular mobile connections in Trinidad and Tobago at the start of 2024. However, note that many people around the world make use of more than one mobile connection – for example, they might have one connection for personal use, and another one for work – so it’s not unusual for mobile connection figures to significantly exceed figures for total population.

GSMA Intelligence’s numbers indicate that mobile connections in Trinidad and Tobago were equivalent to 131.6 percent of the total population in January 2024.The number of mobile connections in Trinidad and Tobago increased by 24 thousand (+1.2 percent) between the start of 2023 and the start of 2024.

The country’s mobile landscape is dominated by two main operators: Digicel and bmobile, both offering extensive services to meet the needs of consumers and businesses. 

Digicel entered the Trinidad and Tobago market in 2006 and quickly gained popularity due to competitive pricing and aggressive marketing. It is part of the broader Digicel Group, which operates in several Caribbean, Central American, and Pacific countries.

Digicel provides widespread 4G LTE coverage across Trinidad and Tobago. The company invests heavily in network infrastructure to ensure consistent service, even in rural and underserved areas. However, like any network, coverage in extremely remote areas can sometimes be spotty.

In July 2018 4G/LTE was launched on the 1900 MHz band (B2). The 2100/1700 MHz band (B4) and the 700 MHz band (B28) are also used for LTE. They used B4 to launch LTE-A using Carrier Aggregation with the 1900 MHz band (B2) in November 2019 and B28 to launch 3CA in October 2020. 3CA and LTE CA with band 28 was stopped in March 2021 due to QoS issues. Only 2CA with band 2 and band 4 remains active. 256 QAM and uplink carrier aggregation (UL-CA) is also active on the network. Coverage is also available Nationwide. Check out their coverage map. The company has won the 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Speedtest award for the fastest mobile network in Trinidad and Tobago and the 2020 Speedtest award for best mobile coverage.

Digicel's 5G network is available in several locations in Trinidad and Tobago, including Marabella, Debe, San Fernando, and Peñal. 

As of recent estimates, Digicel holds a significant portion of the market, often competing neck-and-neck with bmobile. The company’s focus on customer experience and promotions has helped it maintain a strong foothold in the mobile sector.

Digicel had announced it would decommission its 2G network at the end of 2024. 

Bmobile is the brand of Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), the state-owned telecom provider. As the older of the two major operators, bmobile has long been a staple in the country’s telecommunications industry.

4G/LTE has only started in 2016 on 1900 MHz (band 2). bmobile also rolled out LTE using 700 MHz (band 28) in October 2020 and 1700 MHz (band 4) in November 2022. 3 carrier aggregation (3CA), 4x4 MIMO and 256 QAM is active on the network. TSTT previously launched a data device-only TD-LTE 2500 MHz (Band 41) network in 2014 called Blink, which it has expanded to over 400 locations, but requires a contract. This service has since been upgraded to LTE-A using Carrier Aggregation and 8x8 MIMO. Massive-MIMO is also used in select areas.

Bmobile maintains a competitive market share, often rivaling Digicel. Its status as a state-backed provider lends it a level of trust and reliability among many consumers, especially in enterprise and government sectors.

Bmobile has been proactive in 5G trials and demonstrations, showcasing its potential to revolutionize connectivity in Trinidad and Tobago. The company has partnered with international technology firms to lay the groundwork for a future 5G rollout. However, like Digicel, widespread availability of 5G is still pending.

Over the last few years, TSTT has also invested significantly in WTTX, which is their fixed wireless network and is 5G ready

The arrival of 5G in Trinidad and Tobago holds promise for enhanced mobile experiences, including faster speeds, lower latency, and support for smart technologies. Both Digicel and bmobile have expressed commitment to leading the 5G revolution, but challenges such as infrastructure costs, spectrum allocation, and public awareness remain hurdles to overcome.

Trinidad and Tobago’s mobile operators, Digicel and bmobile, continue to play pivotal roles in shaping the nation’s telecommunications landscape. With competitive offerings and ongoing investments in technology, they are well-positioned to meet growing consumer demands. 

China Mobile's Fine-Granularity Segmentation Solution for 5G Network

At the 41st GTI Workshop, held from November 24-26 in Nanning, Guangxi, industry leaders gathered to discuss emerging trends and challenges in the telecom sector. Among the standout contributions was China Mobile’s presentation on its innovative "Built-in Micro-Segmentation Plus" solution for fine-granularity segmentation in 5G networks.

Jie Ma, Project Manager at China Mobile, outlined how this approach addresses escalating security challenges in increasingly decoupled and virtualized telecom environments. The evolution from 2G to 5G has seen continuous security advancements, including user authentication, signalling encryption, and network equipment security assurances. Yet, 5G's service-based architecture introduces new risks due to decoupled hardware, software, and virtualization layers, leaving networks vulnerable to lateral movement attacks.

China Mobile highlighted how the traditional security measures, such as firewalls and SDN gateways, provide perimeter protection but fail to address internal threats within a security domain. The decoupling of hardware, virtualization, and services in 5G—and even more in future 6G networks—exponentially increases the internal attack surface.

To mitigate these risks, China Mobile proposed the "Built-in Micro-Segmentation Plus" solution, which:

• Monitors and Segments Internal Traffic: Enables segmentation at virtual machine (VM), container, and service levels, isolating unauthorized traffic and preventing lateral attacks.
• Real-Time Attack Awareness: Integrates advanced traffic visualization and monitoring capabilities, identifying 15 types of potential attacks.
• Policy-Driven Security: Uses a central management centre to define and enforce granular security policies across the network.
• Enhanced Reliability: Incorporates features like hot backup, disaster recovery, and automated failure detection for uninterrupted service.

This innovative approach enables fine-granularity segmentation that extends security beyond the domain perimeter into the internal network fabric, addressing gaps left by traditional solutions.

In 2023, China Mobile successfully piloted the solution, validating capabilities like asset management, security policy management, and critical file tampering detection. The company plans to expand deployment across 200,000 virtual machines in its 5G core network by the end of 2024, aiming to set a benchmark in securing next-generation telecom infrastructure.

The presentation from China Mobile is embedded below and the slides can be downloaded from here:

China Mobile’s "Built-in Micro-Segmentation Plus" exemplifies how operators can proactively tackle the security challenges posed by 5G and beyond. By integrating advanced segmentation and attack awareness capabilities, the proposal strengthens the telecom ecosystem’s resilience against evolving threats.

As the telecom industry moves forward, this solution not only highlights the importance of innovative security strategies but also underscores the collaborative efforts needed to secure the digital future.

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