AT&T introduces its vision for the company’s network of the future, titled the “User-Defined Network Cloud.” Supported by its Domain 2.0 supplier program, AT&T is putting customers at the center of the network with a modern, cloud-based architecture that is a global first at this scale. The shift will build on AT&T’s best-in-class network status, and is expected to significantly reduce the time required to pivot to this architecture and accelerate time-to-market with technologically-advanced products and services.
AT&T also announces the first group of companies selected to work on the company’s strategy. Ericsson, Tail-F Systems AB, and Metaswitch Networks LTD have been selected to begin further discussions on design and deployment. In addition, Affirmed Networks, Inc., has been chosen to work with AT&T on a virtualized Evolved Packet Core (EPC). AT&T also has selected to work with Ericsson on integration and transformation services. Further selections will take place through the end of 2014. Focus will be on technology roadmap, quality, cost, innovation, among other factors.
“AT&T is transforming the WAN in the way IT transformed the data center,” said Roger Entner, Founder and Lead Analyst, Recon Analytics. “It’s an ambitious program and turns the traditional vendor relationship on its head, opening the doors for new, innovative companies to participate.”
“Our strategy is a vision for our network of the future that delivers what our customers want, when they want it, by tapping into the latest technologies and open network principles,” said Tim Harden, President, AT&T Supply Chain. “It’s a fundamentally new and unique way to build a user-defined public network that addresses the changing needs of our customers. It’s more than just a change in how the network is designed. It also changes how we do business, our relationships with suppliers and how we manage software. We’re reinventing how we scale and operate to manage our services easier, similar to how they’re provided in cloud data centers.” “While our current vendors have an opportunity to be involved in the Domain 2.0 process, we're expanding the net to harness the new, innovative ideas from non-traditional network players, such as smaller companies, open source alternatives and universities to participate in our new ecosystem as well,” Harden said. “We’re going to stay open to new ideas and maintain an ongoing, competitive process.”
Source - AT&T
