MTN South Africa has
completed a major modernization of its core network in partnership with
Ericsson, marking a significant step in its transition to a cloud-native
infrastructure and strengthening its readiness for 5G standalone services.
The project, carried out
under MTN Group’s Unified Cloud Acceleration (MUNA) principles, introduced
Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution on the company’s Cloud Native
Infrastructure Solution (CNIS). This included the deployment of cloud-native
Packet Core and user management functions in the first half of 2025, alongside
upgrades to existing functions hosted on Ericsson’s virtualized infrastructure.
The modernization has
already delivered several firsts. MTN and Ericsson successfully completed the
world’s first In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) of an Ericsson Packet Core
Gateway (PCG) node with a collocated Packet Core Firewall, maintaining 2.52 million
active sessions and 40 Gbps of traffic without interruption. It also marked
Africa’s first ISSU for Ericsson’s Packet Core Gateway.
Expanding the deployment,
MTN introduced Ericsson’s Cloud Core Policy Controller (CCPC), the first
rollout of its kind in Africa. Initially configured as a Policy and Charging
Rules Function (PCRF), the CCPC enables MTN to implement dynamic, real-time policies
for 5G non-standalone and supports the Policy Control Function (PCF) for future
5G standalone operations.
The operator also reached a
milestone in automation with the successful execution of a
Container-as-a-Service Rolling Upgrade (CaaS-RU) on its Cloud Container
Distribution (CCD). This was completed without service disruption while the
CCPC managed about 2 million active sessions.
MTN South Africa General
Manager for Network Services Engineering & L2 Support, Solomzi Mnyaka, said
the modernization marks an important step toward building a future-ready
network. “The implementation of Ericsson’s cloud-native Policy Controller
and Packet Core Gateway enables us to respond more quickly to customer demands,
launch new services with agility, and simplify our processes through
automation,” he said.
Ericsson South Africa Head
Sandile Dhlomo said the transformation supports MTN’s shift to a fully
cloud-native core. “The solution enhances session, mobility, and policy
management while laying the foundation for 5G standalone,” he noted, adding
that it aligns with Ericsson’s #AfricaInMotion vision for digital connectivity.
The collaboration extends a
partnership between MTN and Ericsson that dates back to the early 1990s and
underscores their joint commitment to innovation and inclusive connectivity in
Africa.
By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
