UK-based BT has launched a new service and network automation platform (SNAP) designed to help accelerate enterprises transition towards software defined wide area networking (SD-WAN).
The platform is designed to sit at the heart of BT’s global network, and allow the operator to fully integrate solutions from its partners. Examples of this include SD-WAN controllers from Cisco and Nuage Networks from Nokia.
SNAP also works with Cisco’s Network Services Orchestrator. Together, this allows BT to offer customers a choice of SD-WAN and NFV managed services such as BT Connect Services Platform.
BT plans to extend orchestration from its core network to major third-party cloud data centers and all the way into customers’ local area networks and data center LANs, to provide applications visibility, control and configuration from customers’ devices through to servers in the cloud.
To achieve full compatibility between technologies and high levels of automation, SNAP has been built using the latest open source software as well as industry standard languages. These include YANG for network modeling and TOSCA for service definition and VNF service chaining. Control commands can now cascade through BT’s systems taking effect within minutes, something that previously could take weeks.
To help customers navigate their future network roadmaps, BT has also pooled its SD-WAN and NFV expertise and key skills into a new Center of Excellence (CoE). The CoE supports the full life cycle of customers’ SD-WAN or NFV services, collaborating across design and deployment to operations.
The integrated team is backed with a program of investment in training and tools in areas such as YANG, Netconf and TOSCA.
“We’re investing to make it easier for our customer to take advantage of the latest networking technologies and cloud,” BT VP of network services Keith Langridge said.
“Our new Service and Network Automation Platform and Center of Excellence help customers tap into our wealth of know-how and experience in SDN and NFV.”
First published in NetworksAsia