Nokia moves to Google Cloud

Finnish telecommunication giant Nokia announced in a press release that the company signed a 5-year strategy agreement with Google under which Nokia will move its IT infrastructure to Google Cloud. The company added that it expects to see immediate benefits from the move by lowering its energy consumption costs and eliminating the need to buy new hardware.

This includes the migration of its data centres and servers worldwide, plus software applications.

Nokia will use a suite of Google Cloud products as part of the deal, with Google Cloud deploying strategic system integrators, solution specialists and engineers during the migration.

Rob Enslin, President at Google Cloud, said: "It's an honor to work with Nokia to help modernize its infrastructure on Google Cloud".

It did not unveil the financial details of the contract, but said it will take 18-24 months for the full migration. It didn't name any specific services but Nokia expects it to help accelerate cost optimization and efficiency.

Nokia VP global IT infrastructure Ravi Parmasad said: "Nokia is on a digital transformation path that is about fundamentally changing how we operate and do business. We are very pleased that Google Cloud, with its engineering and operational excellence, is joining our transformation work to help us deliver on the many goals we have set", he said.

China's Huawei is considered as well out in front in terms of the technology's roll-out for next-generation connections although it is subject to a raft of US-imposed restrictions in Europe and in the United States over alleged security reservations amid fears the Chinese can spy on mobile data. With its commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, Nokia is a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks.

Google Cloud already has inked agreements with French automaker Renault and telecoms provider Orange, Amazon Web Services has one with Volkswagen, as does Microsoft with the French health ministry.