Huawei has added another German technology giant to its partner portfolio, this morning signing a strategic agreement with Deutsche Telekom’s T-Systems ICT organisation.
Huawei and Deutsche Telekom have an existing relationship, but today’s agreement adds collaboration on IT. Today in Hanover, the two companies signed a global framework agreement for IT infrastructure and private cloud solutions.
Huawei brings hardware and solution expertise to the deal, which T-Systems brings its extensive cloud expertise.
“Deutsche Telekom is reinforcing its vendor-independence and, as of now, also offering IT products from Huawei at the best conditions in terms of price, service and quality,” says Eva Wimmers, senior vice-president: Group Procurement at Deutsche Telekom. “Huawei has convinced us, technologically and commercially. This increases our global competitiveness and makes us particularly strong for small and medium-sized customers.”
Dr Ferri Abolhassan, director of the IT division at T-Systems, describes the partnership as a “systematic step on the part of T-Systems to consolidate its technology leadership in all matters cloud in Europe, and to expand globally.”
T-Systems is the first international partner to work so closely with Huawei on new concepts for IT infrastructure platforms. “We are bringing together strengths from two continents: T-Systems’ technology and quality leadership in cloud services, and Huawei’s cutting-edge technology and solution expertise,” says Abolhassan. “In this way, we are securing for our customers the best balance of price, service and quality for transforming their IT to the cloud.”
Asked why a German technology icon like T-Systems is collaborating with a Chinese company, Abolhassan says it is largely because of speed and pragmatism.
“Those are the benefits we get from this partnership – for instance we went from idea to realisation within one week. I think we have a big future together.”
Ryan Ding, executive director of the board: president products and solutions at Huawei, adds: “We are delighted that we are able to expand our partnership with Deutsche Telekom and its business customers arm T-Systems in such a powerful way. We have been working together for years on network components, which has given us a leading position in Europe and beyond. Now we are also combining our know-how and cutting-edge technology in IT infrastructures and private cloud. This is a milestone in Huawei’s success story.”
Apart from the global delivery of hardware and software, the two companies want to start technology projects together and develop solutions for private cloud computing as well as traditional IT infrastructures that are to be transferred to the cloud. The first activities for new cloud services are already underway. At CeBIT, the two companies demonstrating a mobile cloud data centre for use on customers’ premises. All the technical systems, from servers and storage components, to cooling systems and the power supply are completely preinstalled in a shipping container, which can be delivered in just a week.
This private cloud in a box is suitable, for example, for large companies that need to rapidly expand their capacities, for disaster recovery, or for data centres in special places, such as on oil rigs. The technology originates from Huawei; the process and cloud expertise, the global connection, and the operation via high-performance networks are provided by T-Systems from Germany.