Few will disagree that the Provider Edge has become increasingly complex over the last decade. Provider edge Routers/broadband network gateways (BNGs), combined with an increasing collection of disparate OSS service management applications, have taken on the role of service delivery platforms. Has this resulted in the best platform for service delivery and will these platforms be suitable for delivering Network Function Virtualization? We don’t think so.
During 2015, architectures and solutions will emerge that move service delivery functionality from BNGs into the cloud. Leveraging cloud technology and virtualization, these solutions will offer functionality and flexibility that cannot ever be provided by the current edge BNG architectures. Further, by leveraging cloud technology, operators will be able to deliver services and applications rapidly with the scalable elasticity that software-based solutions can provide. By connecting customers directly to services and applications using the cloud, the promise of new service delivery using Network Function Virtualization will be realized.
This doesn’t mean that routers are not important. Physical routers will continue to play a key role building the connectivity fabric for the cloud and access to other networks such as the Internet, with vRouters providing the connectivity from the virtual to physical router infrastructure. Routers are still the best way to connect networks to networks; however, they will no longer have the role of connecting customers to applications and services.
This article was originally published in Active Broadband Networks' Blog.