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In this research note, we take you through the details of two new deals Blue Planet, a division of Ciena, recently close with Telefónica 02 in Germany and Swisscom. Appledore describes the agreements’ practical and strategic implications for the company and the industry. The deals hinge on some of Blue Planet’s core, internally developed capabilities including orchestration, inventory, 5G slicing, and assurance. Interestingly, they also harness some of Ciena’s strategic acquisitions including Don River, Centina, and Packet Design. The agreements include systems integration collaboration, something that Appledora views as necessary to be considered a true platform provider. In the short term, these deals validate the strategy Blue Planet has been pursuing. In the mid- and long-term, they represent a shift in willingness by operators to invest in a new generation of network automation software.