Nuage Networks VSP to support CenturyLink NFV deployments across PSB architecture
Telecommunication services provider CenturyLink signed a deal with Alcatel-Lucent’s Nuage Networks to provide the operator with networking functionality for its programmable services backbone network architecture.
CenturyLink said its PSB architecture is an open, software-enabled platform for delivering dedicated services using network functions virtualization technology to its enterprise customers. The architecture is said to use NFV to place applications and services closer to the network edge to allow for quicker deployment, modification and scalability.
Nuage claims its virtualized services platform will allow CenturyLink to offer cloud control by unifying virtualized services in a single entity; the ability to “detect, debug and resolve problems” through a real-time inventory of virtual services, physical connectivity and “the correlation” between the issues; and through micro-segmentation capabilities allowing for protection against security breaches.
“By moving virtualized network functions from a hardware appliance to a pure software environment coordinated by OpenStack and Nuage Networks, CenturyLink will be able to automate provisioning with a policy-based approach,” explained Nuage Networks CEO Sunil Khandekar. “It allows CenturyLink to develop, launch and perfect virtualized network services rapidly.”
CenturyLink has aggressively moved into virtualization platforms, having earlier this year acquired Orchestrate, which focuses on managed database services designed for rapid application development. The move continued CenturyLink’s software push, which included its acquisition of predictive analytics and big data solutions provider Cognilytics; the launch of its Hyperscale cloud servers; the availability of automated cloud-based Hadoop solutions; and plans to tap Cyan for its Blue Planet NFV Orchestrator to provide network functions virtualization-based services to CenturyLink’s enterprise customers.
Alcatel-Lucent launched Nuage in early 2013 to focus company efforts on software-defined networking. Nuage’s first product was virtualization for data centers, although the company also announced plans to target SDN solutions for health care, banking, utilities and other enterprise verticals, as well as large Internet-based companies and telecom service providers.
Nuage recently said it completed an evaluation and testing program with Telefónica Business Solutions that included service chaining of VNFs in a multivendor SDN environment.
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