Verizon SDN plans tap Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Juniper, Nokia
Verizon Communications publicly announced its software-defined networking plans, stating partnerships with the likes of Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Juniper Networks and Nokia Networks to implement an SDN platform.
Verizon said the move will allow the telecom giant to launch new services and applications more efficiently, as well as enable “rapid and flexible service delivery to Verizon’s customers.”
As part of the initiative, Verizon said it has worked with its vendor partners to release an SDN network architecture document that includes “all interface specifications and reference architectures plus requirements for both the control layer and forwarding box functions.”
“This network architecture document will enable Verizon’s key technology partners to develop solutions to achieve the business and technical benefits of an SDN-enabled network,” the operator stated.
Verizon said it has been working in the move toward virtualized platforms over the past several years, including the creation of live lab environments in San Jose, Calif.; Tampa, Fla.; and Waltham, Mass.; and claims to have commercial data center environments on both coasts.
Verizon rival AT&T has been a vocal proponent of the move toward SDN, network functions virtualization and cloud architectures. AT&T announced late last year plans to virtualize and control more than 75% of its network using software based on SDN, NFV and cloud architecture by 2020. At the recent Mobile World Congress event, AT&T said it plans to have 5% of the targeted 150 network functions virtualized and controlled with “our target architecture” by the end of this year.
Bored? Why not follow me on Twitter
