"In recent years, as the opportunities for Cloud services have expanded, carriers placed greater emphasis on the consideration of a Cloud computing platform", stated Toshiyuki Mineno, Senior Vice President, NEC. "NEC's Cloud Platform Suite represents a key building block to its next-generation network solutions, including femtocell and LTE, which provide essential integrated solutions to the complex needs of telecommunications carriers."

NEC's Cloud Platform Suite provides the following features. The platform reduces total costs and lead time by the easy transformation of switching centers to data centres. The package is designed to transform carrier switch centres into data centres without major renovation, thereby reducing cost and lead time. It includes support of a DC-48V power supply and rack-style air-conditioning units that minimize the need for the additional installation of air conditioning.

The platform has simplified configuration and low-cost operations. The package includes integrated operation software that automatically manages virtual environments as well as hardware resources. The software has a user friendly interface that enables carriers to create a virtualized system easily by clicking on pre-installed templates. This easy-to-use interface enables users to accommodate quick expansion and failure recovery of the system.

NEC also provides its predictive system, performance analysis software "MasterScope Invariant Analyzer". The software automatically identifies potential performance issues that are undetectable by conventional monitoring tools. It enables the carrier to run a quick failure analysis and manage trouble shooting of its Cloud service.

The platform operates with power efficiency. Cooling costs are reduced through a Hot Air Containment System (HACS) that encloses hot air emitted from racks into a narrow space and cools it down intensively. The total costs of the data centre are reduced further by rack style servers, storage and network devices that conserve electricity.

NEC's Cloud Platform Suite will feature an additional option, the Programmable Flow Switch and Controller, which will deliver efficiency and visualization to data center networks and be available by the end of March 2011.

This new technology will soon evolve to manage networks in dispersed data centres and enable carriers to provide a high-quality Cloud service via a sophisticated Cloud platform through the integration of its carrier-grade global network and information technology.

In addition, NEC offers operations support systems software, "NetCracker", to enable the integrated operation and orchestration of carrier Cloud services. NetCracker accelerates the delivery and efficient operation of carrier Cloud services by automating order-to-activate operation cycles of networks and by providing end-to-end visibility and optimization of network resources.

Looking forward, NEC aims to continue strengthening its platform portfolio in support of the expansion of Cloud computing business.