ZTE, in collaboration with Intel, has recently launched a Light Cloud solution with the aim of allowing operators to have a viable path to the transformation of access network.
ZTE highlighted that Light Cloud is an NFVI solution that utilizes lightweight blade servers equipped with Intel Xeon D processors.
By embedding the blade servers in an OLT or BRAS equipment and thus turning the equipment into a lightweight cloud infrastructure, the new solution can significantly reduce equipment footprint and construction cost, ZTE said.
During an interview with RCR Wireless News at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019, which took place recently in Barcelona, Spain, ZTE’s Vice President Fang Hui said that the new solution also provides communications operators with higher bandwidths and lower latencies.
The executive also highlighted that the new offering can be easily deployed by service providers and can make full use of existing resources of access office.
Moreover, Light Cloud enables computing and storage capabilities to be loaded onto telecom access equipment, which would allow the deployment and distribution of experience-sensitive services, ZTE added.
With cloud functions moved to the access layer by the built-in blade servers, the new solution launched by ZTE in collaboration with Intel can carry a wide range of cloud applications and services, including MEC, access CDN, vSTB and vCPE, improving the customer satisfaction with experience-sensitive services.
Daniel C. Rodriguez, Intel’s VP of Data Center Group, told RCR Wireless News that the new solution enables the delivery of services right from the access side within a wireline network.
“When we look at 5G overall, it is about delivering services to build businesses impacting a number of industries. In this scenario, the network will put computing and analytics much closer of the customer. Light Cloud is a great example of that, putting MEC right at the access layer of the network to build those high-bandwidth and low-latency use cases, as well as other use cases where they may need even store data more locally,” Rodriguez said.
The Light Cloud solution has been implemented in ZTE’s flagship optical access platform TITAN. During MWC 2019, ZTE and an operator demonstrated sports videos through a Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) cloud powered by TITAN’s Light Cloud solution in Intel MWC Demo Booth.
“ZTE, in collaboration with Intel, provides innovation in key technologies of Light Cloud solution, including image processing, service acceleration, AI learning, big data, encoding and decoding, as well as intelligent network cards,” said Fang Hui.
“The Intel Xeon D processor is optimized for power and space-constrained environments and it’s an excellent choice for edge location. Using Intel Xeon D, ZTE’s OLT design delivers strong computing capability and services at the edge of the network,” Rodriguez added.
“Intel has a growing portfolio of products and technologies that brings advanced performance and intelligence from the core of the data center to the network edge. By working with partners like ZTE, together we can deliver compelling solutions to help communication service providers transform their networks.”
Fang also highlighted that ZTE ranks first among 10G PON suppliers and ranks second among CPE providers and optical access vendors in terms of global market share.
ZTE’s optical access platform, TITAN, has been widely adopted in China, Italy, Brazil and Mexico.
