Telkom with its TelkomCloud is not the only telco entering cloud computing service field. This time XL Axiata is trying to do the same thing by cooperating with six business partners. They are Fujitsu, IBM, Huawei, Microsoft, Intratech and Mandawani. The official launch of this service is scheduled for May 2012.
Dian Siswarini, XL Director of Technology, Content & New Business, as quoted by the SWA explains, “The background of the delivery of this cloud service is as one form of XL’s seriousness in data service. We believe that the demand for data service will continue to grow in Indonesia. One of the business opportunities for qualified data service is inside cloud computing solution business. The inclusion of XL in cloud computing business shows that XL continues to innovate with new business, including in the data service, to provide great service to Indonesia.”
Fujitsu, Huawei, IBM, Intratech and Mandawani will provide support in the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) area. Their services will then be developed to be Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS), while Microsoft will focus on Software as a Service (SaaS) service.
Most of us are probably still confused about the differences between IaaS, Paas and Saas. IaaS is usually focused on hardware as IT infrastructure, PaaS serves as a media development platform for a system including web server and database, while Saas is the topmost layer where anyone can use a ready-to-use integrated system. Even the general public unfamiliar with cloud technology can use SaaS service for storing data or important files.
Having XL enter into the cloud technology arena is making the competition at the national level become increasingly stringent. In addition to telecom operators, some the major ISPs have also announced their readiness in this area. Don’t forget that we have to take into account the major players such as Amazon Web Service and Joyent also seeing a great potential in this sector. It seems that my prediction that 2012 will be a milestone of cloud penetration in Indonesia will become a reality.
