Metaswitch SBCs set to power LTE aspects of AT&T’s software push
AT&T continues to push its software-based future, backed by a previously stated goal to virtualize 75% of its network by 2020.
In chasing that challenge, the carrier said it partnered with Metaswitch to provide the vendor’s Perimea session border controller to power a portion of its software-based network operations. Metaswitch said the product is designed to allow AT&T to interconnect its LTE network traffic with other operators via the SBCs deployed as virtualized network functions.
“By embracing VNFs … AT&T can offer its customers a wide variety of differentiated services on a cost-effective, flexible and programmable network,” explained John Lazar, CEO of Metaswitch.
AT&T announced its software plans late last year, which are expected to include extensive use of software-defined networking, network functions virtualization and cloud technology. The carrier has since aggressively pushed the initiative, recently stating that it had SDN operating in 100 markets that would allow AT&T to increase network utilization rates from 40% to 90%. The carrier also recently noted it plans to have 5% of a targeted 150-network enterprise-focused functions virtualized and controlled with “our target architecture” by the end of this year.
RCR Wireless News recently spoke with Andre Fuetsch, SVP of architecture and design at AT&T as part of our weekly “NFV/SDN Reality Check” show, to get further updates on the telecom operator’s progress, including targeted market segments for virtualized platforms, challenges AT&T has seen in its SDN and NFV deployments, and future challenges the telecom operator feels need to be tackled in order for broader virtualization deployments.
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