Another week, another partnership with DISH Wireless. The latest deal among many for the TV satellite company turned wireless provider is with Equinix. As DISH works to create a cloud-native 5G network, the company has recruited Equinix to help with its digital infrastructure services. DISH is also working with Cisco for 5G enterprise services.
DISH has spent the better part of a decade acquiring spectrum to launch its own 5G network. DISH Wireless began its beta-testing of its 5G network in Las Vegas in early November with hopes to launch by the end of this year. The company must have 70% of coverage in the US by June 2023 or risk a hefty multi-billion fine from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This latest partnership is one of many with major digital players such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Qualcomm, IBM, and Helium.
DISH’s partnership with Equinix gives the company access to the critical interconnection infrastructure in Equinix’s International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers across the country. This will help DISH launch its 5G network nationwide.
Cisco will provide DISH with an array of cloud networking and automation software, which is essential for the two companies to co-innovate a virtual routing implementation with Cisco helping with network slicing. DISH is also working closely with Cisco to quickly build a DevOps team to bring new services to market.
“DISH has compiled an outstanding roster of partners in the wireless industry, and Cisco is a key player helping us launch a customizable, automated, 5G network optimized for enterprise performance,” Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen said in a statement. “Working with Cisco is central to achieving our goal of delivering a best-in-class experience for enterprises.”
Source: CNet
