Ericsson and Telefónica Germany / O2 have reached a milestone in the implementation and control of software defined networking (SDN) for microwave networks.
Ericsson enabled its MINI-LINK microwave product portfolio in the O2 network, allowing the communication service provider (CSP) to implement a vendor-agnostic SDN interface in their nationwide O2 network.
With the technological requirements for mobile networks of the future constantly increasing, this project is enabling Telefónica to base their automation use cases on a harmonized API for microwave devices: a door opener for an efficient implementation of SDN.
SDN is not only targeting the mobile core networks but also the radio access network with its 1000s of nodes. Ericsson has now enabled their entire installed base of more than 15.000 MINI-LINK microwave links in the Telefónica Germany / O2 network to follow recent evolution of the Open Network Foundation’s ONF TR-532 specification. Compatible with a wide range of microservices, this interface implements changes to its microwave links uniformly across all manufacturers and in near real time – creating a highly agile and cost-efficient transport networks for the 5G network of the future.
The new, unified interface also forms the optimal basis for future applications that can use artificial intelligence and machine learning to automatically analyze and improve availability and network utilization throughout the entire microwave network.
Telefónica Germany / O2 is now able to base their automation use cases on a harmonized API for microwave devices, which is the door opener for an efficient use of the implementation of Software Defined Networking (SDN) technology.
This achievement is the result of the long collaboration and a common journey of Telefónica Germany / O2 and Ericsson that was started in 2014, with the partnership helping to shape the telecommunications industry.
Telefónica Germany / O2 has successfully completed the integration of its approximately 30,000 microwave links to the new interface (NETCONF) via an open SDN controller (Open Daylight Controller). The latest interface standard of the Open Network Foundation (ONF TR-532) is used.
Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer at Telefónica Deutschland / o2
Together with our partners like Ericsson we are pioneering SDN within the microwave domain. The technological requirements for the mobile network of the future are continuously increasing. Software-based approaches such as SDN are helping us to reduce the complexity of our network architectures and to drive our network expansion even faster and with higher quality through a greater degree of automation.
Stefan Koetz, Head of Customer Unit Western Europe, Ericsson
This success is not only based on Ericsson’s technology and thought leadership in providing microwave technology that supports standardized and open interfaces that enables a maximum of automation for the ease of operations, but also on the longstanding partnership between Telefónica Germany and Ericsson Germany technical teams and their strong collaboration.
