NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1 – Airtel Africa has collaborated with Cisco, an American digital communication conglomerate, to offer customers Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) solutions that allow them to access an array of services, such as enhanced security, surveillance, connectivity, and cloud solutions, under a cloud platform.
NaaS enables customers to operate networks efficiently without the need to own, build, or maintain physical infrastructure, reducing the challenges associated with traditional network models such as capital expenses, manual service provisioning, and lengthy issue resolution processes.
“As Africa transitions digitally, businesses will require a fusion of connectivity, mobility, security, and cloud into a service offering for every business irrespective of geographical spread or operational needs,” said Airtel Business Africa CEO Oliver Fortuin.
Airtel Africa’s NaaS offerings, which are powered by Cisco’s cutting-edge Catalyst and Meraki cloud-based platforms, are designed to replace hardware-centric VPNs, load balancers, firewall appliances, and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) connections.
The flexibility allows for scaling up or down based on demand, rapid service deployment, and reduction of hardware costs.
“Together with Airtel Africa, we are reducing networking complexities and securely connecting the world through Network-as-a-Service,” On his part, Cisco President, Service Provider, Asia Pacific, and Japan,Vish Iyer, said.
“This innovative approach is a great option for businesses wanting to shift to a cloud operating model without a heavy lift.”
