The European Commission recently welcomed the delivery of the Cloud-Edge Industrial Working Group’s Telco Cloud Thematic Roadmap, which explores cloud environments tailored for the telecoms sector.
Through the participation of leading cloud and edge industries across Europe, this initiative aims to identify key investment areas to foster the development and deployment of next-generation European cloud and edge technologies. The collaborative effort not only addresses the evolving needs of the telecommunications industry but also supports the broader objective of advancing Europe’s leadership in digital infrastructure.
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Telco Cloud Thematic Roadmap: An Overview
The Telco Cloud Thematic Roadmap is an extension of the broader cloud-edge strategy initially laid out in 2023 by the Cloud-Edge Industrial Working Group. The updated roadmap reflects the European Commission’s commitment to advancing cloud and edge technologies, as these are pivotal for driving the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G.
The roadmap not only aims to address technological challenges but also provides recommendations on optimizing cloud environments for telecommunications, fostering the development of highly secure, interoperable, and resource-efficient computing infrastructures across Europe.
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Addressing Key Challenges
The roadmap aims to tackle the challenges and opportunities in the telecom industry as it welcomes next-generation, cloud-based networks. Telecommunications companies are increasingly adopting cloud and edge solutions to improve network performance, enhance security, and support new digital services.
However, integrating these technologies into existing telecom infrastructures comes with several challenges, including issues related to data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, interoperability, and the need for significant investments in new infrastructure.
The Telco Cloud Thematic Roadmap provides a framework for overcoming these hurdles by offering guidance on investment priorities, technological standards, and best practices for network-cloud convergence. The goal is to create a seamless and efficient ecosystem where telecom providers can leverage the full potential of cloud and edge computing, enabling the faster deployment of services and supporting new use cases, such as real-time data processing and low-latency applications.
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Strengthening Europe’s Position in Cloud and Edge
The European Alliance for Industrial Data, Edge, and Cloud was established to strengthen Europe’s position in cloud and edge technologies by bringing together businesses, government representatives, and experts to work on common goals.
The alliance aims to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors to define strategic investment roadmaps that drive the development of secure, energy-efficient, and interoperable cloud infrastructures. This approach is crucial for achieving the EU’s digital transformation goals, particularly in sectors where sensitive data processing is involved.
The alliance plays a pivotal role in advising the European Commission on requirements and standards for cloud services, including procurement practices. This advisory role intends to ensure that investments align with the broader European data strategy, which emphasizes creating common data spaces and supporting the continent’s digital sovereignty.
By focusing on key areas such as public cloud procurement, the integration of cloud services with existing telecom networks, and data governance, the roadmap aims to set a clear path for Europe’s cloud and edge technology development.
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The Road Ahead: Strategic Investments and Collaborative Efforts
The Telco Cloud Thematic Roadmap is not just a technical document but a strategic guide for the future of European digital infrastructure. It emphasizes the importance of targeted investments in cloud and edge technology to support the rapid uptake of digital solutions across various industries.
Funding for these investments is expected to come from EU programs such as the Digital Europe Programme, Connecting Europe Facility 2, the European Defence Fund, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. These funds will be channeled to support projects that align with the EU’s broader goals of achieving digital and green transformation by 2030.
Furthermore, the roadmap encourages stakeholders to share insights and develop solutions that can be standardized across the EU. This collaborative approach is critical for ensuring that the different cloud and edge technologies deployed across Europe are compatible and can communicate effectively, thereby avoiding fragmentation in the digital infrastructure.
The European Alliance’s new Telco Cloud Thematic Roadmap represents a significant step forward in shaping the continent’s future digital landscape.
By addressing the technical, regulatory, and investment challenges in integrating cloud and edge technologies into the telecommunications sector, the roadmap sets the foundation for a more secure, efficient, and resilient digital infrastructure in Europe.
As the EU continues to navigate the complexities of digital transformation, this roadmap will serve as a guiding document to ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of cloud and edge innovation, ultimately enhancing its global competitiveness in the digital economy.
