IBM unveils cloud for 5G telcos, gets Nokia and Samsung as partners

International Business Machines Corp on Thursday became the latest U.S. technology company to launch a cloud platform directed at telecom operators deploying 5G and signed up Nokia and Samsung as partners.

A cloud platform uses software instead of physical equipment to do network functions, helping telecom operators to build 5G networks faster, reduce costs and sell customised services to business clients.

The US government has been pushing big US companies to get more involved with 5G – a technology which promises to enable everything from self-driving cars to remote surgery and more automated manufacturing.

Companies such as Microsoft and Amazon have launched their own cloud platforms targeting telecom operators.