SoftBank upgrades White Cloud SmartVPN platform with NFV, SDN technology
Japanese telecom giant SoftBank said it plans to upgrade its White Cloud SmartVPN architecture using Cisco System’s Evolved Services Platform Orchestration, software-defined networking and network functions virtualization technologies.
SoftBank, which owns a controlling stake in U.S. carrier Sprint, said the move is expected to reduce deployment time on enterprise services and support “greater elasticity of customer demand by utilizing service chaining of new virtual network functions.”
“Traditionally, network operators have built service chains of L4-L7 security functions by wiring cables between physical network devices,” the companies noted in a statement. “This service chaining infrastructure is expensive, difficult to manage, and inflexible for differentiated service offerings to diverse customer segments. In contrast, service chaining using SDN creates software-controlled service chains in which traffic is steered through the appropriate security functions for a given flow, based on customer profile, service type or other characteristics.”
The deployment is set to include Cisco’s Network Services Orchestrator to provision physical and virtual elements. Cisco noted the platform, which is enabled by Tail-f, uses standardized YANG models and automates multivendor devices on the network.
“Automation and elasticity on demand will also help us dramatically reduce both our operating and capital costs as we grow the offering,” explained Sadahiro Sato, SVP of ICT innovation at SoftBank.
SoftBank also deployed Cisco’s Virtual Topology System that is designed to “stitch the dynamic service chains within the data center.” Cisco added that the platform automates data center network provisioning for virtual and physical infrastructure.
Cisco earlier this year announced a partnership with Verizon Communications to use the vendor’s Intelligent WAN technology to power an enterprise-focused SDN WAN platform.
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