With the New IP, the network and cloud converge
Staggering increases in consumer demand for network capacity are creating a major transition in the telecom industry, which is working to harness the power of Software Defined Network (SDN) architecture and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) to drive faster innovation and service delivery.
That’s where Brocade and the New IP come into play. The networking company is moving aggressively to deliver the solutions Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) need to maintain a competitive edge.
Kevin Shatzkamer, Brocade chief technology officer for mobile networking, recently discussed the importance of SDN, NFV, Big Data analytics and more during a well-received Mobile World Congress Tech Talk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otrbR2ttRyU
Shatzkamer described how MNOs have shifted their focus from devices and network infrastructure to the much more foundational software functions and network architecture needed to deliver services quickly across a variety of access networks including 3G, LTE, Wi-Fi and other types of networks.
Shatzkamer noted that companies need a “portfolio of services that extend across all those access networks. The network itself and the thinking of the mobile industry is moving from this left- hand side where it’s very access-centric in terms of how we think about this, all the way to the right- hand side in terms of the cloud and how we think about it going forward.”
The transition to a modern, flexible network architecture
Cloud-computing, social media, mobile connectivity, and Big Data analytics rely on open, scalable, software-based platforms that represent the foundation of the New IP, which is essentially a more modern approach to networking.
To keep their customers satisfied, MNOs must have the network resources to deliver content-heavy and user-rich experiences while being mindful of capital and operational expenditures.
They must also be able to glean valuable information from raw data. Massive growth in network traffic has brought with it massive growth in data points that, if properly analyzed, could drive innovative business process management and, in turn, reduce operating expenses
Brocade’s mobile visibility and analytics solutions provide the right tools needed to track and analyze data while reducing costs so MNOs can operate more efficiently.
Instead of using legacy systems laden with vendor lock-in, Brocade offers virtual tools to monitor application performance, dropped calls, coverage, and more for a total cost of ownership estimated to be 43 percent lower than comparable hardware-based solutions.
“All of the long- held beliefs that we’ve had in mobile are changing,” Shatzkamer said. “Now we’ve evolved–” beyond devices and infrastructure–“The conversation is no longer at the protocol level. The business models that are expected and being delivered are significantly different.”
Looking ahead to the 5G mobile networks of the future, and even advanced LTE applications on the immediate horizon, Shatzkamer stressed the importance of considering SDN, NFV, and Big Data as integrated, not isolated, technologies.
“The integration of SDN and NFV provide capabilities that neither SDN nor NFV provides independently,” he said. “Of course, analytics, when coupled with both of these technologies, provides a dynamic capability, an automation capability, and an intelligence that doesn’t exist when they are viewed as individual disruptions. Those are the problems we’re looking at solving.”
Brocade networking solutions enable MNOs to deliver customized customer experiences through automation, not only driving profits but also reducing expenses.
For more information, visit Brocade.com.
