Telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) announced on Tuesday it has picked IBM to deploy and manage its big data platform across its network. By using an open source Hadoop framework, IBM will provide Vodafone Idea with advanced data mining to reduce costs and improve operational efficiencies.
Analytics are becoming a big business as companies look to harness open source data and advanced analytics technologies in order to identify revenue growth and cost reduction opportunities. While there are ever increasing amounts of data available in data lakes, service providers and businesses have struggled to turn that information into meaningful and actionable results.
By using Hadoop, IBM said it could accelerate innovation by mining 1.2 petabytes of data each month. That data is pulled from more than 100 systems, including billing and CRM, into a single unified platform to help employees and partners make informed decisions. It also provides daily delivery of more than 1,000 key performance indicators (KPIs), such as daily revenue and net subscriber adds, for various business functions.
Vodafone Idea claims to have the world's largest IT network integration, but it needed to update its architecture by embracing open source and using predictive analysis for data modernization. IBM's big data capabilities also break down silod data for improved data availability.
Vodafone Idea said in its press release that it would also better leverage cloud-native technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance revenues, reduce costs and elevate customer experiences.
RELATED: Red Hat lands a deal with India's Vodafone Idea to build network platform
The adoption of IBM's big data capabilities built on IBM's existing work to improve Vodafone Idea's hybrid cloud by using open source technologies. This includes an agreement earlier this year to deliver its open universal cloud with IBM and Red Hat to accelerate network and IT modernization. IBM has been an IT partner to Vodafone Idea for more than a decade.
Just over two years ago, Vodafone India merged with Idea Cellular, to form Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL). Vodafone currently holds a 45.1% stake in the combined entity and Aditya Birla Group holds a 26% stake.
"With the successful completion of the world’s largest integration in record time, we have embarked on a journey equipped with augmented data insights to help millions of our customers with customized and faster service launches," said Vodafone CTO Vishant Vora, in a statement. "Along with IBM, we have implemented many first-of-kind projects and the big data and analytics engagement is one such initiative. The open source approach has helped us in modernizing infrastructure and network experience, helping our people and partners in quicker business decision making. The power of data will help transform our cloud and AI journey in the future.”