NEC and AWS Strengthen Cloud-Edge Integration for Next-Generation Telecom Networks
The initiative is designed to support more efficient edge deployments as the industry prepares for accelerated adoption in the 6G era, while also enabling tighter integration between edge environments and cloud services.
NEC has unveiled a new edge computing solution that combines its space- and power-efficient User Plane Function (UPF) with the expanded cloud adoption options enabled by second-generation AWS Outposts racks. The initiative is designed to support more efficient edge deployments as the industry prepares for accelerated adoption in the 6G era, while also enabling tighter integration between edge environments and cloud services.
By aligning its UPF architecture with next-generation Outposts infrastructure from Amazon Web Services, NEC Corporation aims to help telecommunications operators modernize their networks without sacrificing mission-critical performance. The solution delivers low-latency, high-throughput capabilities required for advanced 5G services, while preserving the operational consistency and agility associated with cloud-native environments.
The deployment also supports NEC’s broader “AI Native” vision, which focuses on embedding artificial intelligence into network infrastructure to address societal and operational challenges. By enabling efficient edge rollouts and seamless cloud integration, NEC positions operators to better support emerging use cases that demand real-time processing, reliability, and scalability.
Amir Rao, Global Director of GTM and Telco Solutions at Amazon Web Services, said the collaboration highlights how AWS Outposts can help telecom operators evolve their infrastructure while maintaining application performance. He noted that second-generation Outposts provide the cloud-native flexibility operators need, alongside the low-latency and high-performance characteristics essential for modern and future mobile networks.
Takashi Sato, Corporate Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NEC’s Network Solutions Business Division, emphasized that running NEC’s multi-platform UPF on second-generation AWS Outposts expands network design and operational choices for communications service providers. According to Sato, the approach supports rapid service deployment and stable operations while reducing design and operational complexity. NEC stated it will continue developing network platforms that pragmatically integrate cloud and network technologies to create long-term value for service providers.
