Virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions provider, VMware has promoted Shekar Ayyar to EVP and General Manager of the company's Telco Group to expand its focus on service provider market.
Ayyar reports to CEO Pat Gelsinger, and will also continue to lead VMware's strategy and corporate business development activities.
Ayyar who joined VMware in June 2007 will lead the company's effort to accelerate the digital transformation of the telecommunications industry through the company's Cross-Cloud Architecture, and software-defined infrastructure for network functions virtualization (NFV).
VMware said that today there are more than 400 CSPs and Telcos globally, many of which are looking to accelerate innovation and launch new services faster, easier and with less expense. With VMware, CSPs and Telcos can combine network, cloud, mobility and IT architectures into a converged platform for network services and applications with over-the-top agility and industry standard economics.
VMware enables organizations to deploy a multi-vendor and multi-function NFV platform, based on VMware's Cross-Cloud Architecture, that is OpenStack compatible and supports diverse network functions and applications.
VMware claims that it currently has more than 80 NFV production deployments with leading global service providers across all geographies, deployed directly as well as through Network Equipment Provider (NEP) partners and Virtual Network Function (VNF) vendors.
Pat Gelsinger, chief executive officer, VMware
VMware is in a unique position to enable the transformational benefits of NFV for service providers given its leadership position in virtualization technology. Shekar's experience as a proven leader, with the right combination of knowledge and strategic thinking, will help expand VMware's already strong foothold in the Telco market.