Swedish vendor now in the hotseat for Telefónica's Unica project.

February 23, 2016

1 Min Read
Telefónica Chooses Ericsson as Its New Virtualization Kingpin

BARCELONA -- Mobile World Congress 2016 -- Telefónica today announced that Ericsson is its new lead partner to drive its NFV and broader virtualization program, Unica. The Swedish vendor will be the lead vendor partner for Telefónica's initial Unica rollout in Germany and Argentina. (See Telefónica Picks Ericsson for Unica Role.)

Telefónica had previously named HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) as its lead partner but, as Light Reading reported in December, Telefónica has gone back to the market to choose a new prime collaborator. Telefónica Group CTO Enrique Blanco told Light Reading that Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC) would have to work with multiple other vendors to meet Unica requirements. Among the vendors Ericsson will have to work with will be Hewlett Packard Enterprise (still part of the Spanish operator's plan) and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. as well as "many small specialist vendors." (See Telefónica Ditches HPE as Virtualization Lead, Who Might Replace HPE at Telefónica? and HPE Will 'Continue to Work With Telefónica' on Unica.)

Look out for more details from an exclusive Light Reading interview with Blanco in further Mobile World Congress coverage.

— Ray Le Maistre, Circle me on Google+ Follow me on TwitterVisit my LinkedIn profile, Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

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