AT&T; Using RADCOM NFV Solution for Service Assurance
By One of the most interesting aspects in watching the speed at which network functions virtualization (NFV) is gathering momentum and being applied in communication service provider (CSP) networks is in watching the use cases evolve. A good example is the decision by AT&T to migrate its network probe functions to the cloud with new service assurance software from RADCOM Ltd. In short, this shows that NFV is being deployed not only to capitalize on optimization and cost reduction in general, but in this instance is aimed at identifying network issues to help assure customers have great experiences.
In making the announcement of its next steps in virtualization, Susan A. Johnson, senior vice president, AT&T Global Supply said: “Our shift to a software-based network began a few years ago when we saw the exponential growth in traffic on our wireless and broadband networks…To keep up with that demand and scale our capacity, we needed to change our network to be more software-centric.” She added, “Network function virtualization is an important part of this shift. Virtualization replaces custom hardware with software running on standard equipment. We’re turning routers, switches and other network gear into virtual network functions. ”
Johnson also explained how the virtualization of the probes running on the cloud increase visibility and performance monitory by the company’s network administrators. It does so through the integration of the virtual probe (vProbe) functions into the AT&T network through ECOMP, AT&T’s infrastructure delivery platform that powers our software-centric network.
AT&T says it picked RADCOM because of the functionality in RADCOM’s MaveriQ software which will enable AT&T to deploy vProbes as virtual network functions running on the AT&T Integrated Cloud (AIC).
One final note that is a highlighted by AT&T is that since they announced their 2020 virtualization goal to virtualize 75% of our network by 2020, they have surpassed their first major objective by virtualizing 5.7% in 2015. In 2016, we’re targeting 30%. They believe that the addition of NFV solutions from companies like RADCOM along with the increased pace of NFV innovation and solution realization will help AT&T accelerate the timetable for reaching their objective.
Edited by Peter Bernstein