Macau's sole telecoms operator CTM will next month launch the first public cloud services in the city.
Dubbed Cloud Infrastructure Service and "Business Talk," CTM's cloud-based value-added services are essentially infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and cloud-based unified communications service built on Cisco's new cloud computing framework CloudVerse.
CTM's cloud infrastructure service is a public cloud service comprising network, storage and computing. Built on Cisco's Unified Communication System (Cisco UCS) and Cisco Nexus switches, CTM's IaaS will provide four preset packages with fixed IP address, standard firewall and standard database templates, while providing optional data backup and recovery services.
CTM's "Business Talk" is an enterprise-grade unified communication and collaboration solution. Built on CTM's cloud service platform with Cisco's Unified Communications Manager and the Cisco IP phone, CTM's "Business Talk" will deliver hi-definition voice services via multiple devices including business phones, desktop computers, notebooks and smartphones.
CTM's "Business Talk" service also provides fixed-mobile convergence and mobility extension capabilities. Using one number, the service can extend the business voice to mobile phones via a unified communications platform. Users can also extend their mobility and save on roaming charges when calling from overseas via a WiFi-connected mobile device.
Next in line: Virtual desktop and DR
According to Winnie Wong, CTM's director of business services and development, all data in its cloud services will be stored in CTM's two data centers -- one in Macau and one in Taipa. CTM's IaaS users can upload their own applications onto CTM's servers, "but they will have to be responsible for their own software licensing," she added.
Wong declined to reveal the amount of investment in CTM's cloud computing service, but said cloud computing amounts to 30% of the company's annual investment in infrastructure.
Moving forward, CTM targets to provide virtual desktop solution and disaster recovery services in the next phase of cloud service delivery. In an email inquiry about possible private cloud service delivery in the future, Wong said: "CTM has the capability and knowledge to provide private cloud solutions to customers. Our own development on public cloud service is a good project reference. In case there are customers who are interested in deploying private cloud, we will examine the customers' needs and design the best cloud strategy to suit their needs."
Cloud-based workload to exceed 50% by 2014
The cloud computing framework that CTM adopts, CloudVerse, combines the foundational elements to help build, manage and connect public, private and hybrid clouds. The three key elements of CloudVerse are: 1) Unified Data Center, which provides a fabric-based platform to automate storage, computing, network and cloud management; 2) Cloud Intelligent Network that connects virtualized resources within, between and beyond data centers; and 3) Cloud Applications and Services which enables "as a service" delivery of Cisco's and third-party cloud-based applications.