Early last month, Nokia launched its Altiplano Application Marketplace, expanding its suite of software defined networking (SDN) offerings for fixed access networks. The Altiplano Application Marketplace is essentially a digital store that offers a plethora of applications that can be selected and deployed by fixed broadband operators to enrich their network capabilities. These applications can be bought off the store, built by the operator themselves or adapted from existing offerings, enabling them to customize their software defined access networks (SDAN) implementations to meet their network and market needs.
Making the most of programmable networks
SDN brings programmability to access networks with IT-like capabilities that enable operators to use software to control, manage, optimize and automate their networks. By subscribing to the Altiplano Application Marketplace, network operators now have a simplified means to enhance programmability, without having to invest in deep software capabilities while benefitting from the flexibility provided by its mix and match approach.
The Altiplano Application Marketplace and its Apps
For starters, network operators can choose any of Nokia’s seven introductory applications that are segmented into three different themes – network automation, network support and network insights. Under network automation, operators can tap into the ONT Easy Start for ONT activations and the Bandwidth Sharing Optimizer which enables dynamic PON bandwidth management for fair peak rate availability.
Under network support, which covers the detection and resolution of issues, the applications offered are the Automated Troubleshooting Assistant for alerting and resolution, SFP Health Monitor for identification of SFP issues and irregularities in optical performance, and ONT Health Monitor for proactive monitoring of ONT performance. The last category, network insights, comes with the Network Trend Analyzer which predicts network behaviour and the Network Capacity Manager which monitors PON capacity, utilization and bottlenecks. More applications, including those from third parties, are expected to debut in 2023.
Operators looking to tweak these applications to their network requirements can do so with easy adaptation features offered by an application development framework. The Altiplano Developer Portal that comes with a software development kit (SDK) allows operators to customize the WebUI and APIs and draw up new network policies and automation workflows.
The Altiplano Developer Marketplace
For operators looking to develop bespoke functionalities to serve more specific automation use cases, they can use the SDK and the virtual lab environment provided by the Altiplano Application Marketplace to design and test their applications. The developer portal also features automation tools and agile development systems, an open API library and an integrated development environment for code design. This speeds up application development processes and supports faster integration with 3rd party applications.
A superior framework for automation
The introduction of the Altiplano Application Marketplace provides operators the flexibility to customize and scale their SDN and automation capabilities in line with a host of important determinants such as vendor and technology mix, breadth of services supported, performance requirements, security vulnerabilities and monitoring as well as analytical needs. With different networks featuring different vendor combinations, different underlying technologies, different states of virtualization and different network capacities, the marketplace enables operators to shape their own automation journey by focusing on areas that are of priority to their businesses and that match their internal skill sets and capabilities. The adaptability and customization enabled via open and extendable tools allow network operators to pick their desired base capabilities, such as real-time network intelligence or service quality management, and refine them further based on specific geographies, network technologies or SLA requirements.
Geert Heyninck, Nokia’s Vice President of Broadband Networks said, “No two networks, and likewise no two automation solutions are alike. By opening up the Altiplano platform for developers, partners and customers to create and add applications, we’re pleased to offer exactly the flexibility they need.”
With the Altiplano Application Marketplace, network operators will now have an option to fast track the adoption of various automation functionalities that would have taken many weeks if not months to be developed. The set of base applications provided by Nokia pave the way for both experienced and inexperienced teams to introduce these functionalities easier and faster, cutting short the time-to-market. This enables even the smallest of operators to confidently embark on the journey towards network automation, starting with simpler functionalities such as automated provisioning of ONTs.
By bringing together network operators, partners and third-party developers, the Altiplano Application Marketplace is expected to spur innovation in broadband services as different parties build on each other’s efforts via continuous adaptations, improvements and additions to existing applications. The rich, inclusive ecosystem nurtured by the platform can drive greater synergies between all players, especially with market-driven incentives that reward applications that create value for today’s networks.
Tackling SDAN complexities
Given the complexities surrounding SDAN deployments, it is important that operators keep an eye out for the inefficiencies that can arise from poor integration and coordination between different operational processes. These not only impair and slow down automation, but also lead to sub-optimal use of network resources, manual intervention and lost revenues due to delays in service rollouts. The Altiplano Application Marketplace addresses these inefficiencies by merging control, operational and visibility functions on a single interface, thus addressing the fragmentation that often plagues legacy software environments.
Redefining operators’ go-to-market approach, the Altiplano Application Marketplace presents operators quick access to applications that can greatly enhance network performance, optimize resources and drive service assurance. Combined with the Altiplano Access Controller, Nokia’s powerful cloud-based SDN controller, the digital marketplace presents network operators a powerful, yet a highly simplified approach to network automation, leading to improved agility and enhanced operational excellence for today’s access networks.
