AlefEdge and Syniverse are partnering in an effort to offer enterprise customers a turnkey 5G edge network solution. Syniverse will supply the private wireless network elements, and AlefEdge will contribute edge compute functions and access to a growing stable of application developers.
Syniverse, which has its roots in roaming interconnection, brings its Global SIM and private wireless capabilities to the partnership. The Global SIM enables policy control and data management, and the private wireless capability includes a longstanding partnership with Microsoft's Affirmed Networks, which developed a virtualized evolved packet core that can be used in private networks. .
"Syniverse is the only private wireless operator that delivers private and public mobile network connectivity with end-to-end security," said Pablo Mlikota, Syniverse president of sales for enterprise customers in the Americas.
For the radio side of its private network solution, Syniverse says it is building strategic relationships with RAN vendors and system integrators. The company said it can also extend public carrier networks to create private network solutions.
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AlefEdge brings its unique approach to edge compute. The startup is trying to build 2,500 edge compute nodes worldwide (it has at least 50 so far) with the goal of being within 10 milliseconds of any device. The company leases space for its platform from tower companies and data centers. It also has a partnership with Vapor IO, which is building micro data centers at tower sites.
AlefEdge founder Ganesh Sundaram sees the potential of a patchwork of 5G enterprise private networks, and he wants to create a fabric to connect them. His company is using open APIs to create an edge environment in which enterprises can build their own apps to run at the edge.
In addition, AlefEdge is recruiting freelance software developers to build enterprise applications on its platform. Recently AlefEdge hired Jeff Tennery, founder of Moonlighting, as its chief commercial officer. Moonlighting built a platform to connect freelancers with employers, and before Moonlighting Tennery worked in wireless, giving him a unique background that seemed a great fit for AlefEdge.
According to Sundaram, AlefEdge already has access to 5,000 developers. "We are trying to convert them into developers who can actually build something on our platform and take it to market," he said.
“An open API and developer-first approach are critical to any enterprise’s digital transformation journey, and they need the control levers for the development of new 5G Edge services," said Joe Hammer, AlefEdge EVP for business development. "Syniverse’s proven industry network experience and roaming innovation make them the perfect partner for Alef’s expanding ecosystem."
Syniverse is one of many companies that has partnered with AlefEdge. Sundaram said his company has partnerships with at least two other unnamed core network providers. AlefEdge has also partnered with Federated Wireless, which provides a Spectrum Access System for CBRS private wireless deployments.
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Sundaram said his company's primary path to market is through systems integrators, and so far AlefEdge has partnered with nine large integrators around the world.