Dell Technologies Telecom Certified: A Year of Partner Success

A year in review of our Dell Technologies Telecom Self-Certification program, highlighting our partner success stories.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of mobile communications, the demand for more agile, efficient and open networks has become paramount. Embracing open standards and collaboration among industry players is key to achieving this goal. Traditionally, proprietary hardware and software solutions have characterized telecom networks, leading to vendor lock-in, high costs and limited scope for innovation. The industry’s shift toward open-source technologies and cloud-native networking has paved the way for more agile and cost-effective telecom infrastructure.

This approach has been instrumental in providing communications service providers (CSPs) with assurances the quality and capabilities of their software are deployment-ready for today’s telecom networks.

The Dell Technologies Telecom Self-Certification Program, launched at MWC Las Vegas 2022, is a bold initiative designed to set independent software vendors (ISVs), start-ups and other telecom software companies apart from competitors and give potential customers confidence in the software’s quality and reliability. By enabling vendors to self-certify their solutions, Dell Technologies has streamlined the process of bringing new innovations to market and fostering an environment of trust among ecosystem participants.

We are proud to announce that since the program’s inception, more than 20 ISVs have successfully completed the self-certification process on one or more of the Red Hat, VMware or WindRiver test lines to become Dell Technologies Telecom Certified. With the highly competitive nature of the telecom software market, certification serves as a unique selling point. The value of Dell Technologies Telecom Certified represents several key benefits:

  • Reduced time-to-market. A certification program typically involves rigorous testing and validation processes. While this may seem time-consuming, the self-certification process has been streamlined to automate certification activities and accelerate certification test execution.
  • Collaborative innovation. The program allows ISVs to join Dell Technologies Open Telecom Ecosystem Community, promoting an atmosphere of collaboration and knowledge sharing among telecom vendors and fostering a culture of open innovation. Vendors can learn from each other’s experiences, leading to improved solutions and enhanced customer experiences.
  • Enhanced customer confidence. CSPs benefit from the program as they gain access to a diverse range of pre-certified solutions verified by Dell Technologies. This self-certification instills confidence in the quality of the deployed solutions and results in more satisfied customers.
  • Vendor diversity.  By bringing a multitude of vendors to participate, the self-certification program creates a vibrant and diverse ecosystem. This diversity enhances competition, drives down costs and spurs further innovation.

To share in the value of self-certification, I sat down with Kaitki Agarwal, Founder, President and CTO of A5G Networks, a leader in distributed and autonomous 5G Core network software for private and public networks, to discuss the powerful impact of the partnership between us. The success story dives into how the self-certification program enabled A5G Networks to elevate their expertise and boost credibility and describes the collaborative journey toward mutual growth and success.

Dell Technologies’ Telecom Self-Certification Program is a game-changer in the world of telecommunications. By championing open standards, interoperability and collaborative innovation, Dell Technologies is driving the industry toward a more agile, efficient and customer-centric future. As the telecom ecosystem continues to evolve, this program will play a pivotal role in empowering operators, vendors and customers alike, leading to a more connected and prosperous world.

Start your journey to become Dell Technologies Telecom Certified today.

Gautam Bhagra

About the Author: Gautam Bhagra

Gautam Bhagra is the Vice President of Partnerships within Dell’s Telecom Systems Business Unit. In this role, Gautam is responsible for managing global alliances with companies that are partnering with Dell in driving transformation within the Telecom sector. Gautam has two decades of experience within Telecom and IT organizations. He joined Dell in Dec 2022 to manage the global partnerships team within Telecom Business Unit. Prior to Dell, he held several leadership roles at Google. As one of the early employees of Google Cloud, Gautam had the unique opportunity to help build a successful partner ecosystem across EMEA and US. Most recently, Gautam was managing the Managed Services Provider partner business in North America, where his team managed some of the most strategic partners for Google Cloud. Prior to Google, Gautam worked at British Telecom, leading their Strategy team, and worked at Booz & Company on multiple consulting projects at a leading Telecom provider in the Middle East. Gautam got his MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona and has a Bachelor’s in Information Science. He is originally from India and currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife, two kids and two dogs. He enjoys traveling and has visited over 45 countries and lived in six.