TOKYO -- NEC Corporation and NetCracker Technology have announced that Swisscom AG has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NEC and NetCracker as a part of its major cloud-based transformation. NEC and NetCracker will assist Swisscom to transform its business to a full cloud environment by jointly developing next-generation IT solutions, accelerating Swisscom's development of its virtualization capabilities and assisting it to showcase and operate a world-class hybrid network and access layer.

The first phase of this transformation will focus on the migration of IT applications to the cloud and virtualizing IT in order to accelerate speed to market for new services, increase operational agility and reduce CAPEX and OPEX. As part of the initiative, Swisscom is also planning to build a series of Centers of Excellence focused on the next generation of business transformation. Under this MOU, NEC, NetCracker and Swisscom will partner to build a Center of Excellence for SDN/NFV and cloud transformation. This will enable Swisscom to optimize the use of SDN/NFV and support the testing and operationalizing of both physical and virtualized network components in real-world environments.

During the first phase of this transformation, NEC and NetCracker will migrate Swisscom's NetCracker OSS (fulfillment and assurance) solution to the cloud by leveraging the capabilities from NetCracker's latest product suite NetCracker 10, which will result in greater flexibility and cost savings. NEC and NetCracker will also deliver their end-to-end Service and Network Orchestration solution and Transport SDN Controller to virtualize, integrate and manage Swisscom's diverse underlying infrastructure and services and enable its seamless migration to a fully virtualized environment. The Orchestration solution is optimized to support Swisscom's hybrid network and cloud access management capabilities.

Swisscom is Switzerland's leading telecommunications service provider, offering customers throughout the country a full range of sophisticated products and services, including fixed-line and mobile telephony and Internet services, as well as digital television, IT and networking solutions.

"Our Cloud Strategy is foundational to delivering the quality and innovation that our customers have come to expect from Swisscom," said Heinz Herren, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Officer at Swisscom. "We are partnering with NEC and NetCracker to put in place the key elements of our Cloud Strategy due to their track records of innovation and delivery."

"NEC and NetCracker have already delivered SDN/NFV solutions for commercial networks and we are confident that we can help Swisscom leverage the cloud and orchestration solutions needed to achieve its business transformation goals," said Shunichiro Tejima, Executive Vice President at NEC Corporation. "By combining NEC's expertise in infrastructure technologies with NetCracker's end-to-end suite of award-winning OSS solutions and IT background, we are thrilled in supporting Swisscom's journey to the cloud and virtualization."

"Swisscom's innovative nature combined with new cloud-based solutions and hybrid network capabilities will introduce the next-generation flexibility and agility required in Switzerland's fast-paced telecommunications market," said Andrew Feinberg, President and CEO at NetCracker. "We are excited to expand our long-term partnership with Swisscom and create the foundation for innovation and operationalization in this mission-critical domain."

Swisscom AG (NYSE: SCM)
NEC Corp. (Tokyo: 6701)
Netcracker Technology Corp.