The Japanese firm plans to start deploying the NFV technology on its network this month
NTT DoCoMo said it has completed development of what it claims to be the world’s first network function virtualization technology that can run evolved packet core software from multiple vendors.
NTT DoCoMo said this technology will enable the firm to enhance connectivity in high-volume areas. The telco said it plans to deploy the technology starting this month.
NTT DoCoMo also said the NFV technology will help to ensure stable network operation by improving connectivity when data volume is high, as well as following natural disasters or in the event of hardware failures. The technology is also expected to accelerate delivery of new services by enabling software from multiple vendors and hardware to be combined openly in a mobile network.
“Multi-vendor NFV technology, once regarded as pie in the sky, will now be deployed commercially on our mobile network,” said Seizo Onoe, EVP and CTO at NTT DoCoMo. “Many NFV technologies already deployed still rely on single vendor, so we expect this truly multivendor NFV technology will be a long-awaited game changer in the mobile industry’s ecosystem.”
The Japanese operator also plans to deploy software-defined networking technology to make IP network flexible in accordance with the introduction of NFV, and plans to virtualize many other key components of its mobile network in the future, aiming at eventually establishing a fully virtualized network.
Ericsson targets VoLTE contracts in India
In other APAC news, Ericsson is looking to snare a few contracts for the deployment of voice-over-LTE technology in India by the end of this year, according to Indian paper The Economic Times, citing Ericsson India’s region head Paolo Colella.
Rival vendor Nokia Networks has already secured VoLTE contracts with local operators Reliance Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India.
The Ericsson executive said the vendor sees opportunities in India this year in other markets including mobile broadband, telecom services, operating support and business support systems, and IP transport.
Colella cited planned spectrum auctions as drivers for new investments, with Indian regulators looking to award spectrum in the 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands.
