BT has launched BT Agile Connect, a new software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) service that aimed at helping large enterprises with their digital transformation.
The new service, powered by technologies from BT and Nuage Networks, uses software-defined networking (SDN) to determine the most effective route for traffic across a customer’s wide area network.
According to BT, Agile Connect will give large enterprises greater control and insights over their infrastructure and traffic flows, allowing much faster and simpler set up of new sites with reduced network complexity and lower costs.
Customers are able to prioritize applications or manage use of access services via an interactive portal. They also gain an improved visibility of application performance. Changes are implemented centrally without the need for expensive local technical support, the UK operator said.
The new SD-WAN product runs on BT’s global wholesale network infrastructure, with Agile Connect equipment currently live within the networks of several large global organizations. BT is now rolling the product out for new and existing customers as part of its Dynamic Network Services program.
Agile Connect includes a BT pre-built controller infrastructure hosted on the internet and on BT's multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network. It also uses BT pre-built MPLS Internet gateways to offer simple cloud-based connectivity between internet-connected and MPLS-connected sites.
“Together, these features save customers from having to undertake time-consuming and costly design, delivery and on-going maintenance of controllers, interconnection gateways, security and monitoring systems critical to the performance of a SD-WAN,” BT said.
Agile Connect is delivered as a single box located on the edge of their network, with further services added as additional devices. In the future, Agile Connect will support virtual network functions (VNFs), with new services deployed virtually to the Agile Connect device, removing the need to install multiple boxes, BT said.