What Whale Cloud does

Whale Cloud is a China-headquartered (Nanjing) intelligence technology company that provides AI-driven BSS/OSS software platforms, cloud solutions, and digital experience tools to communications service providers, governments, and enterprises across more than 80 countries. Founded in 2003 as ZTEsoft and rebranded to Whale Cloud in 2016, the company serves 950+ customers including 150+ telecom operators and reaches approximately 1.8 billion end users, with 10,000+ employees and 19 global capability centers.

The company's product architecture is platform-led: a cloud-native, TM Forum Open API-compliant core — ZSmart Digital OSS/BSS Suite / Digital BSS — augmented by the WhaleDI AI platform for multimodal predictive, generative, and preceptive decision-making, the LocalGPT private LLM for telecom-specific workloads, the Xpress BSS SaaS offering for MVNOs and digital telcos, the Digital Experience Platform for omnichannel customer engagement, and the Local Public Cloud solution co-developed with Alibaba Cloud for sovereign cloud monetization. The technical foundation emphasizes composable architecture, no-code/low-code extensibility, SID-based ontology, and cloud-agnostic deployment, with ISO 27001 certification and TM Forum Ready for ODA Vendor status.

Revenue is generated through subscription and software licensing on the BSS/OSS, Digital BSS, Xpress BSS, and AI platforms, supplemented by professional services for implementation, consulting, and customization, plus partner-channel distribution via ZTE, Alibaba Cloud, and the Whale Cloud Partner Community. The go-to-motion combines enterprise direct sales targeting telecom operators with channel-driven distribution, supported by Xpress BSS's pay-as-you-grow subscription pricing. The company remains privately held, with no public revenue or funding disclosures in the source material.

Name

Whale Cloud

Legal name

Whale Cloud Technology Co., Ltd.

Website

https://online.iwhalecloud.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Whale Cloud provides AI-driven BSS/OSS platforms, cloud, and digital experience software to 950+ telecom operators, governments, and enterprises across 80+ countries, founded in 2003 as ZTEsoft and headquartered in Nanjing, China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanjing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Subscription-based commercial model for BSS/OSS solutions, Digital BSS, Xpress BSS, and AI platforms. Customers pay recurring fees for access to software, updates, and support.
2. Xpress BSS SaaS: Subscription-based cloud BSS solution for MVNOs and digital telcos with pay-as-you-grow model reducing initial start-up costs.
3. Professional Services: Implementation, consulting, and deployment services including end-to-end delivery for cloud solutions, system integration, and customization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Whale Cloud provides AI-driven, cloud-native BSS/OSS software platforms for telecom operators, MVNOs, government agencies, and enterprises. Its portfolio includes the ZSmart Digital OSS/BSS suite, WhaleDI AI platform, Xpress BSS for rapid MVNO launch, Digital Experience Platform, Local Public Cloud, and Alipay+ payment solutions, all built on TM Forum Open API-compliant, composable architecture.

Product overview

Whale Cloud offers a comprehensive platform-plus-modules architecture for telecom digital transformation. The core offerings include Digital BSS (cloud-native, AI-powered BSS/OSS system) and WhaleDI AI (flagship AI platform for predictive, generative, and preceptive decision-making). The product portfolio includes Xpress BSS for rapid MVNO launch, LocalGPT for private LLM deployment, Digital Experience Platform for customer engagement, Local Public Cloud for sovereign cloud infrastructure, Fiber roll-out as a Service for network deployment, Alipay+ for payment solutions, and Dev Platform for API integration. Supporting modules include Real-Time Billing, Elastic Charging Platform, Convergent Billing System, and Connectivity Management Platform. The solutions serve communications service providers, government agencies, and enterprises across 80+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital BSS Cloud-native, composable BSS system with AI at the core, delivering business value at every touchpoint. Supports TM Forum Open API compliance with AI-driven, context-aware no-code studio, domain-specific low-code plug-in framework, and SID-based ontology for unified data modeling. Includes Real-Time Billing, Elastic Charging Platform, Convergent Billing System, and Connectivity Management Platform.
• WhaleDI AI Flagship AI platform integrating multimodal AI for predictive, generative, and preceptive decision-making across the ZSmart Digital OSS/BSS suite, cloud solutions, and smart city platforms. Recognized by Frost & Sullivan for AI-enabled OSS/BSS innovation.
• Xpress BSS Cloud BSS solution for MVNOs and digital telcos with 500+ pre-configured use cases and 300+ pre-tested features, enabling rapid business launch in 2-4 months. Features TM Forum-compliant product catalog, convergent charging, and real-time billing on a subscription, pay-as-you-grow model.
• LocalGPT Private LLM solution integrating large language models with telecom-specific data for on-premises deployment. Reduces manual support needs and improves response times while keeping data within local infrastructure.
• Fiber Roll-out as a Service FTTx network rollout and deployment management solution for fiber network planning, construction, and operations for telecom operators.
• Local Public Cloud Private sovereign cloud solution delivered in partnership with Alibaba Cloud, enabling telcos and IDCs to monetize legacy infrastructure as cloud services while meeting data protection compliance requirements.
• Digital Experience Platform (DXP) AI-powered customer engagement platform unifying omnichannel content and customer data through modular architecture. Components include Customer Journey Cloud, Digital Marketing Cloud, Loyalty Management Cloud, and Operations Service.
• Alipay+ White label payment platform and digital wallet solution powered by Ant Group, enabling merchants and consumers to build Super Apps with secure mobile payment, real-time risk management, and scenario-based customer growth promotion.
• Dev Platform Developer platform providing open environment for customers to develop and customize applications using DevOps approach with DevStudio, enabling no-code ODATA services and pre-built connectors for rapid service launch.
• Fintech Promotion Digital financial marketing platform for intelligent promotion management, precise marketing, and customer engagement and growth acceleration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32.6% increase in ARPU for industry leaders using DXP
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• ZTE IndonesiasupportingTechnology or Integration · 22 May 2026ZTE Day Indonesia 2026 technology showcase featuring Whale Cloud Technology Indonesia alongside Sertis Indonesia and Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. Event discussed AI, intelligent infrastructure, and digital transformation in Indonesia with ecosystem players.
• AGIBOTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Strategic partnership to co-develop global embodied AI markets, integrating AGIBOT's robotics technology with Whale Cloud's global reach and industry experience. Targets telecommunications as strategic entry point while expanding into industrial manufacturing, security, healthcare, public services, and residential environments. Aims to establish dominant positioning in global embodied AI landscape.
• Ant InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Deepening fintech collaboration at MWC 2026 combining capabilities to help financial institutions launch and grow digital wallets and super apps across global markets. Whale Cloud brings 20+ years of Alipay technology experience and IT implementation across 800+ enterprise customers. Partnership leverages Alipay+ platform connecting digital banks, mobile wallets, and global merchants.
• IntelsupportingTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2026Panel collaboration at MWC Barcelona 2026 exploring convergence of AI, AIOps, and cloud as 'trilateral shift' redefining next-generation telecommunications. Part of ecosystem discussion on intelligent, autonomous networks.
• Red HatsupportingTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2026Panel collaboration at MWC Barcelona 2026 exploring AI, AIOps, and cloud convergence. Joint demonstration of solutions at ZTE booth in Ecosystem exhibition area as practical example of ecosystem collaboration.
• ZTEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Strategic partnership focused on AI and digital transformation following participation in Intelligent Computing Congress. Collaboration aims to develop digital and industrial ecosystems across Southeast Asia, Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. Joint provision of network and IT cloud infrastructure solutions to telecom operators and enterprises, including projects in Indonesia, Algeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa.
• Alibaba CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration for Local Public Cloud solution enabling Internet Data Centers and telecom companies to implement cloud business revenue engines. Alibaba Cloud provides Apsara Stack for private cloud environment; Whale Cloud provides Cloud Revenue Engine for monetization and monitoring. Solution enables telco-cloud bundles and data sovereignty compliance.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Amdocs: Amdocs is the global market leader in BSS/OSS software for communications service providers, serving 600+ telecom operators worldwide. Directly comparable to Whale Cloud across the same core product categories (BSS, OSS, customer engagement, billing) and target customer segment, but with broader portfolio and deeper Tier-1 telco penetration.
• Netcracker Technology: Netcracker (a NEC company) provides BSS/OSS and digital transformation solutions to telecom operators globally. Closely comparable to Whale Cloud's ZSmart Digital OSS/BSS suite and digital experience offerings, serving the same CSP customer base with similar cloud-native, AI-enabled platform architecture.
• CSG Systems International: CSG provides BSS solutions and revenue management software to telecom operators globally. Directly comparable to Whale Cloud's Digital BSS, convergent charging, and customer engagement products, serving similar CSP and MVNO customer segments with subscription-based software models.
• Cerillion: Cerillion provides BSS/OSS software with a focus on MVNOs, digital telcos, and convergent charging. Directly comparable to Whale Cloud's Xpress BSS and Digital BSS products, particularly in the greenfield MVNO launch segment where time-to-market and pre-configured use cases are decisive.
• Qvantel: Qvantel provides digital BSS software for communications service providers, with comparable product positioning to Whale Cloud. Mentioned alongside Whale Cloud in the Developing Telecoms Global Forecast 2026, confirming direct competitive overlap in the emerging-market CSP segment.
• Hansen Technologies: Hansen Technologies provides billing, BSS, and customer care software to telecoms, utilities, and pay-TV operators. Directly comparable to Whale Cloud's billing, charging, and customer engagement portfolio, with overlapping CSP target market and similar subscription revenue model.
• Optiva: Optiva provides BSS solutions with a strong focus on MVNOs, digital telcos, and emerging-market operators. Comparable to Whale Cloud's Xpress BSS and convergent charging products, with similar pay-as-you-grow pricing model and similar CSP customer segment focus.

Broad incumbents

• Ericsson: Ericsson is a global telecom equipment and services incumbent whose OSS/BSS offerings (via Managed Services and Digital Services) compete broadly with Whale Cloud across the same CSP buyer base. While Ericsson's telecom software is part of a much wider portfolio including RAN and core network, the overlap in BSS/OSS modernization opportunities is direct.
• Huawei: Huawei's SmartCare BSS/OSS suite competes with Whale Cloud, particularly across emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America where both vendors have strong presence. Huawei operates as a broader incumbent offering end-to-end telecom infrastructure plus software, with comparable scale to Whale Cloud in EM telcos.
• Nokia: Nokia's AVA Analytics, NetGuard, and CloudBand offerings provide OSS and analytics capabilities that overlap with Whale Cloud's ZSmart OSS and WhaleDI AI platform. Nokia is a broad incumbent with deeper Tier-1 CSP relationships in Europe and North America, competing on AI-driven network automation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WhaleCloud2

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whale Cloud