What exactly might a next-generation network look like? If we actually try to answer that question it becomes clear that there are two parallel visions to contend with. On the physical side, we have to build the network with fiber transport and something electrical above it, whether it’s a set of special-function devices or hosted…
The number one issue with making an NFV business case is that of service automation. Any talk about “operations efficiency” or “service agility” that doesn’t start with the assumption that service activity is automated is just a waste of breath. In addition, if we don’t have very precise notions of how we’d manage the incremental…
The concept of serendipity is dear to everyone. You find a winning lottery ticket, dig up a pipe and find a stash of buried treasure, and (if you’re a network vendor) do a bunch of stupid stuff that somehow adds up to putting you in the right place at the right time. Well, it’s nice…
We are starting to see earnings reports from technology giants and the results so far aren’t particularly pretty. We are what we sell, in this industry as in all industries, and so it’s important to look at the trends reflected in quarterly reports to see what’s really happening in our industry. Today I want to…
SDxCentral cites an important truth in an article and report (the latter from the MEF and the Rayno Report), which is that there’s a lot of dissatisfaction with OSS/BSS out there. It’s more complicated than that, though. I mentioned in a prior blog my own experience at a major Tier One, where I got a…
The ETSI NFV ISG has made a public release of the presentations made in the NFV modeling and information model workshop held recently and hosted by CableLabs. I’ve referenced some aspects of this meeting in past blogs, but the release of the presentation material supports a look at the way the modeling issue is developing, and…
Most of those who follow topics in SDN and NFV will recognize the ONOS or Open Network Operating System project. It’s been covered regularly in the media, but much of the coverage seems to present it as a kind of alternative OPNFV. It’s true that ONOS and OPNFV, as projects, could be considered to have…
Over the last year I have been trying to understand how network operators make a business case for a migration to SDN and NFV. It’s easy to see how you can build them into a few services or projects here and there, but we seem to be lacking the impetus to drive a wholesale shift…
I know that in past blogs I’ve noted that we often create unnecessary problems in the industry by overloading hot new technology terms. “Software-Defined Network” is a great example; some people have used the term to describe a major shift from distributed device-adapted networking to centralized software networking. Others think you get to SDN by…
One of the outcomes of the recent meeting of NFV ISG members, hosted by CableLabs, was recognition of the value of open-source implementations of NFV and a need to harmonize efforts there. Ironically, it’s also been reported that four operators have formed their own open-source activity to develop a MANO implementation. It’s worth looking both…