Cellular operator "T2" switches from VMware to Russian virtualization

Basis and the Russian mobile operator T2 (formerly Tele2) have signed a contract for the supply of software for organizing virtual environments. This was reported to TAdviser in Basis on November 6, 2024.

The products of the Basis ecosystem will replace foreign virtualization tools in the T2 infrastructure. At this stage, we are talking primarily about server virtualization and VMware products. At the same time, the signed contract for a period of three years includes the possibility of purchasing any products from the Basis ecosystem at a fixed price, TAdviser explained in Basis. Arrangements also include, product installation services, advanced technical support and employee training.

Ecosystem solutions will be deployed in stages in the T2 infrastructure, where they will replace VMware vSphere Standart and other foreign developments. In the first stages, the flagship Basis Dynamix solution, designed to organize a dynamic infrastructure, will be deployed on 700 T2 physical servers. And then the number of servers transferred to Basis Dynamix will gradually increase to 4 thousand across the country.

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At the same time, T2 launched Basis Virtual Protect testing on its infrastructure, Kubernetes virtual machine and cluster backup tools, a Basis Migration Assistant tool that automates virtual machine migration. Together, these solutions ensure the transition to the Basis ecosystem without stopping the customer's business processes.

Also, T2 specialists are actively testing Basis Digital Energy, a DevOps pipeline for organizing a full cycle of development, testing and maintenance of software products.

Ecosystem products will be implemented by the Professional Services Basisa team together with T2 specialists. Working together at all stages makes it easier to overcome the difficulties that can arise during the transfer of infrastructure components, and ensures that employees receive the T2 necessary expertise. In addition, the customer's engineers will undergo training on working with Basis Dynamix on the basis of the authorized training center "Kudits."

For "T2," the highest priority is the smooth operation of the infrastructure, eliminating downtime and data loss. Alexey Martynov, director of IT "T2," notes that therefore the company chose a phased migration using special tools and made the training of its employees part of the agreement with "Basis."

Our deal with T2 is a landmark for the domestic virtualization market. Basis flagship products will have to work around the clock in 69 regions of Russia, in fact throughout the country, and gradually replace foreign solutions without compromising the operator's business processes. A lot of work has to be done in terms of the transfer of expertise. However, a positive result of all efforts will give a clear signal to the market that it is possible to implement such comprehensive and large-scale projects in Russia, "says David Martirosov, general director of Basis.

David Martirosov explained to TAdviser that the key feature of the project with T2 is the wide geography of the deployment of Basis products and the high requirements for uninterrupted operation. And the main difficulty in such projects is the transfer of components of a working infrastructure, for example, virtual machines, to a new infrastructure. Especially the transfer is "hot," that is, without stopping the work of business systems. It is necessary to ensure the compatibility of sites, prevent the loss of data that is processed in a virtual environment, and not interfere with the operation of the infrastructure.

At the same time, the project with "T2" is not the largest project of "Basis," but it is definitely one of the ten largest, also told TAdviser David Martirosov. The company implements more complex projects, for example, with Rostelecom, VTB and Gazprombank.