AT&T and Orange have signed an agreement to collaborate on open source and standardization initiatives that will accelerate the standardization of software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologies.
The companies said they are aligning on a strategic vision to move intelligence from customer hardware to the network, reducing cost and complexity. This effort will help the industry and business customers move faster towards a more agile, flexible and on-demand networking future.
Today, deploying new virtual network services and functions is complex. Network service providers and businesses alike have to deal with proprietary standards, closed architectures and multiple equipment vendors that have different platforms and specifications.
AT&T and Orange said they will identify appropriate forums for industry standardization discussions to drive standardization efforts forward. By introducing common standards and interfaces, the industry would simplify technological integration, increase operational efficiency and reduce costs, resulting in shorter deployment cycles and a faster pace of innovation.
Through a network-centric approach, AT&T and Orange are committed to making the SDN and NFV vision and benefits more accessible for both businesses and the industry.
AT&T meanwhile also reported that Amdocs will serve as integrator for companies adopting AT&T’s open source ECOMP platform to enable software-centric network capabilities
The company said Amdocs will help companies deploy that open source software into their own networks. ECOMP is a vital tool for service providers struggling to meet today’s network demands while preparing for an even greater load in the next few years from applications like virtual reality and augmented reality, 4K videoand the Internet of Things.
AT&T said ECOMP is a software suite spanning the entire NFV service life cycle. This will enable shorter service introduction times, improved operational efficiencies and agile data-driven service management of NFV and SDN functions and services.
The offering will target capabilities like the creation of a single view of physical and virtual resources and services, rapid service design, master service orchestration and automated configuration and management. AT&T has already implemented ECOMP in its software-based network, while Amdocs will help market the platform globally. AT&T and Amdocs will continue to enhance the platform through standardization and contributions to the open source community.