AT&T and Orange have signed an agreement to collaborate on driving the open source and standardization initiatives that will accelerate the standardization of software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologies.
Through a network-centric approach, AT&T and Orange are committed to making the SDN and NFV vision and benefits more accessible for both businesses and the industry.
The two companies aim to make customer premises equipment (CPE) and services truly universal by creating common specifications for premise-based devices, allowing them to work in different network function software provider(NSP) environments and with different NSP providers. Both companies also plan to streamline the onboarding process for virtual network functions (VNFs) by introducing common guidelines and templates that will mature the VNF provider ecosystem and make VNFs more plug and play.
Both operators also want to bring the open source SDN/NFV proposition further by developing standardized APIs that will enable SDN architectures from different NSPs to interoperate with each other, making deployment of virtualized network services and functions faster and easier.
Roman Pacewicz, Senior Vice President, Offer Management and Service Integration, AT&T Business Solutions
We're committed to defining a framework that will accelerate the adoption of SDN. Driving the industry toward a standardized approach will reduce the cost and complexity created by proprietary implementation of equipment in the network and on the customer premise.
Didier Duriez, Senior Vice President, Global Solutions, Orange Business Services
Everyone benefits when network services and functions are designed around a common ecosystem that is delivered on open platforms. Innovation can happen faster and more easily, and this model will also help improve reliability and security.
