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IoT

HPE Acquisition Helps Engineers Bring Complex Enterprises on the Cloud

Bringing cloud and 5G coverage to industrial settings without the capital expense.

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In Late February, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) acquired Athonet, a private cellular network technology company. This is part of HPE’s latest bid to challenge the top cloud providers for enterprise customers.

(Image courtesy of BigStock.)

(Image courtesy of BigStock.)

HPE’s strategy leverages the fact that it isn’t easy for industrial companies to reliably connect their sites to 5G networks and the cloud. A company’s engineering and IT team might need to cover large and complex areas filled with intricate infrastructure in remote or hard to reach locations, which makes implementation a long and expensive process. However, by linking Athonet technology with HPE telco and Aruba networking portfolios, HPE aims to simplify the process using a subscription-based model.

These private 5G networks from HPE will enable companies to deploy, manage and secure AI, automation, robotics, industrial IoT, data networks, security systems and other Industry 4.0 applications without worrying about the communication infrastructure or capital expenditure. Instead, Athonet and Aruba HPE will offer fully integrated Wi-Fi capabilities to these networks on a monthly subscription, reducing the risk and upfront investment of linking up industrial organizations.

Tom Craig, global vice president and general manager for the Communications Technology Group at HPE, said, “Enterprise customers are demanding a customized 5G experience with low-latency, segregated resources, extended range and security across campus and industrial environments that complement their existing wireless networks. With the acquisition of Athonet, HPE now has one of the most complete private 5G and Wi-Fi portfolios for CSP and enterprise customers – and we will offer it as a service through HPE GreenLake.”

According to HPE, other benefits this acquisition can bring engineers looking to connect their industrial enterprise include:

  • Private networks with the coverage and mobility of 5G and the high capacity of Wi-fi.
  • Fast, agile deployments that can meet the needs of various enterprises.
  • Consumption-based cost models that align with revenues.
  • Zero-touch automation for the management of operations and costs from edge-to-cloud.
Written by

Shawn Wasserman

For over 10 years, Shawn Wasserman has informed, inspired and engaged the engineering community through online content. As a senior writer at WTWH media, he produces branded content to help engineers streamline their operations via new tools, technologies and software. While a senior editor at Engineering.com, Shawn wrote stories about CAE, simulation, PLM, CAD, IoT, AI and more. During his time as the blog manager at Ansys, Shawn produced content featuring stories, tips, tricks and interesting use cases for CAE technologies. Shawn holds a master’s degree in Bioengineering from the University of Guelph and an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.