At a basic level, network virtualization is fundamentally the same whether regardless of where in an operator's network it is implemented - be it access, edge or core. Briefly, these foundations include:
The ability to scale-in/scale-out network resources. In order to accommodate and compete with...
Offloading traffic at the edge holds the key to making the economics of 5G service delivery tenable. From keeping video traffic local to enabling ultra-low latency operations for autonomous vehicle operations, the ability to provision virtual network elements at the edge and then manage...
Network functions virtualization (NFV) and software-defined network (SDN) are spearheading the shift toward virtualization, with multi-access edge computing (MEC) serving as a way to alleviate some of the cloud’s workload. As manufacturers look to MEC to enable various smart devices, NFV and SDN are...
CableLabs, Aricent collaborated on the platform built on the Kubernetes and Docker container model
Cable research organization CableLabs and design and engineering company Aricent have been collaborating on an open-source network function virtualization platform aimed at enabling a cloud-native environment for lab and development work...
InterDigital and Orange demoed a service-based architectural approach to the 5G control plane
5G, as it continues to develop and be built out, is envisioned as a flexible connectivity medium that trades off proprietary equipment for a cloud-native architecture supported by low-cost, white box server...
As communications service providers (CSPs) continue to transition their networks to a virtualized environment, for the next several years, they’ll be operating their legacy physical network in tandem. The resulting hybrid network environment demands higher efficiency and interoperability in the provisioning and deployment of...
The first 5G networks may be commercially ready by the end of this year. Mobile subscribers are within sniffing distance of lightning-fast 5G, a truly exciting prospect after years of build-up, speculation, discussion and…yes…some hype. 5G will open up use cases and business revenue...
Flexibility, scalability, time-to-market key drivers of SDN adoption
Software-defined networking (SDN) provides the management and orchestration tools needed to operate increasingly complex and increasingly virtualized networks. For operators, SDN creates efficiencies related to both spectral and network resource allocation, as well as related to level...
ETSI's Open Source MANO (OSM) release 4.0 is lighter weight, more mature
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute responsible for European Union telecom standards, announced Release 4 of its Open Source MANO (management and orchestration) standard last week. ETSI is billing OSM 4.0 as a lighter,...
In this installment of Network Slicing 101, we’ll examine the basics of network virtualization as applied to network slicing.
When we hear about network slicing, one of the most common attributes associated with the concept is the notion that the slices will need to be...
Computer vision is powering advances in automotive, medical, consumer, and agriculture markets. Because the world of computer vision coupled with machine learning evolves so quickly, teams need a way to design and verify an algorithm while the specifications and requirements evolve without starting over...
ETSI-based open source NFV platform tips OSM Releases 4 and 5 that bring more stability, testing and convenience.
The Open Source Management and Operations (OSM) project, an initiative hosted by the standards group ETSI, gave workshop attendees at NFV-Zero Touch World Congress a sneak peek...
The need for interoperability
Network interoperability has become increasingly important in the telecommunications industry with the emergence network functions virtualization (NFV) and software-defined network (SDN). These sorts of technologies have freed customers from vendor lock-in by replacing proprietary hardware with open source software, which allow...
Today, you can get almost anything as a service: shipping as service (Amazon Prime), music as a service (Spotify), TV as a service (Netflix), mobility as a service (Uber), and, of course, infrastructure as a service (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform).
This...
RAD debuts vAccess
Israel-based company RAD rolled out a new addition to its vCPE toolbox, dubbed vAccess, which enables value-added NFV and SDN-based services to be launched over any access.
RAD describes itself as a market leader of NFV and SDN edge virtualization. vAccess is part...
MEF announces two new specifications for MEF 3.0 framework
The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF), a nonprofit international industry consortium, recently released two new specifications related to the MEF 3.0 framework. According to the organization, the specifications, dubbed Information Model (MEF 59) and Interface Profile Specification...
NetScout Systems becomes member of LFN
The Linux Foundation Networking Fund (LFN) continues to grow with NetScout Systems Inc. jumping on board as its newest member.
LFN was founded at the beginning of the year as a way to house the Linux Foundation's open source projects...
Core network virtualization
Network operators are virtualizing their core networks in an effort to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. By enabling virtualization in the core network, service providers can significantly decrease operational expenditure (OPEX) and capital expenditure (CAPEX), while accelerating the delivery of...
Network slicing and 5G
Network slicing has received significant attention among telecom operators, especially with the commercialization of 5G networks on the horizon. Based upon the principles of network functions virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking (SDN), network slicing is expected to play a major role...
NetElastic enters SD-WAN market
California-based startup NetElastic recently rolled out an integrated suite of network functions virtualization (NFV) software products specifically geared toward telecom carriers.
NFV is a process of decoupling software from hardware, which enables service providers to virtualize network services that traditionally ran on...
Service providers are moving network infrastructure to the edge to support new data loads and traffic patterns driven by 5G and the IoT. By moving cloud, compute and processing power to the edge of the network, it’s possible to support the ultra-low latency, interactive...
ZTE adds container networking solution to TECS OpenPalette platform
Chinese vendor ZTE recently premiered an end-to-end container networking solution in the open-source network functions virtualization (NFV) field , dubbed Knitter, as part of its Tulip Elastic Cloud System (TECS) OpenPalette Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS).
According to ZTE, contemporary...
Plans for virtual RANs
Telecom operators are looking to extend the benefits of virtualization to radio access networks (RANs). Companies such as Nokia, Intel and Verizon are working to leverage RAN architectures like virtual RAN in preparation for the 5G and IoT era. But what...
The Linux Foundation and OCP tag team open source hardware/software initiative
The virtualization of network functions has resulted in a disaggregation of hardware and software, increasing interest in open source projects for both layers in return. To feed this interest, the Linux Foundation and Open...
