Communications Network Virtualization: A Win-Win for Service Providers, Consumers and Ecosystems

There is a lot of buzz in the industry about Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), Software Defined Networking (SDN) and cloud technologies. So what is all the buzz about? It is about the insatiable demand of consumers for reliable, personalized and innovative services accessible from anywhere and at any time, and more pointedly, about the ability for service providers and their networks to meet these demands. Given the pace of innovation and agility of the Over-the-Top or OTT applications ecosystems that we have all been witnessing and experiencing over the last few years, the reality is that the service provider communications networks of today were not designed to meet those needs effectively and must be evolved rapidly to get innovative communications services to market quickly and efficiently with the ability to scale and de-scale those services on demand. The current model of appliance-based network elements and stovepipe architectures just does not meet the needs as it can take anywhere from 18 months to two years to launch a new service in addition to using computing resources quite inefficiently.

As articulated in GENBAND’s recent NFV, Cloud and SDN whitepaper, the solution to these challenges is a software-based NFV model of the network, consisting of virtual network functions (VNFs) or communication network applications and open Applications Programming Interfaces (APIs) running on highly scalable and elastic cloud infrastructures. NFV brings with it true service agility, elasticity, programmability and scalability - giving service providers a powerful platform for quick product and service launches and the ability to collaborate with new applications ecosystem partners, test drive innovative new services, grow new markets and most importantly maintain brand loyalty with end-user consumers. NFV brings optimal resource utilization, optimal cost structures and most importantly, services agility to help service providers stay atop the communications provider value chain. NFV also gives service providers the ability to innovate, test drive new services with fail-quick mechanisms built in so that they can adapt quickly. Working with applications ecosystems, new service innovations that include virtualization and personalization can be brought to market quickly.

Famous French conductor Charles Munch said, “The conductor must breathe life into the score. It is you and you alone who must expose it to the understanding, reveal the hidden jewel to the sun at the most flattering angles.”  In this case, the service providers will be the conductors and orchestrators using NFV to expose and breathe new life into innovative communication service offerings for which exists an insatiable demand from consumers.

NFV Based Apps