Facebook open sources Magma, a software platform for deploying mobile networks

2 min read

Yesterday, the team at Facebook open-sourced Magma, a software platform that will help operators for deploying mobile networks easily. This platform comes with a software-centric distributed mobile packet core and tools for automating network management.

Magma extends existing network topologies to the edge of rural deployments, private LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks or wireless enterprise deployments instead of replacing existing EPC deployments for large networks.

Magma enables new types of network archetypes where there is a need for continuous integration of software components and incremental upgrade cycles. It also allows authentication and integration with the help of LTE EPC (Evolved Packet Core). It also reduces the complexity of operating mobile networks by enabling automation of network operations like software updates, element configuration, and device provisioning.

Magma’s centralized cloud-based controller can be used on a public or private cloud environment. Its automated provisioning infrastructure makes deploying LTE as easy as deploying a WiFi access point. The platform currently works with existing LTE base stations and can associate with traditional mobile cores for extending services to new areas.

According to few users, “Facebook internally considers the social network to be its major asset and not their technology.”

Any investment in open technologies or internal technology which make the network effect stronger is considered important. Few users discussed Facebook’s revenue strategies in the HackerNews thread. A comment on HackerNews reads, “I noticed that FB and mobile phone companies offering “free Facebook” are all in a borderline antagonistic relationship because messenger kills their revenue, and they want to bill FB an arm and a leg for that.”

To know more about this news in detail, check out Facebook’s blog post.