SDN/NFV Technologies: Innovative Use Cases and Operator Strategies: Ken Research
SDN/NFV Technologies: Innovative Use Cases and Operator Strategies: Ken Research Telecommuting The hype cycle for software defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) has been long and steady. SDN separates control plane (network management) from data plane (traffic handling), allowing dynamic bandwidth, provisioned with quality of service levels. NFV replaces hardware with software apps able to operate in a compute environment, eliminating specialty WAN equipment and associated costs. The world's major network providers are trialing these technologies heavily to understand their benefits, both for themselves and for their business customers. They also seek to understand how, if they are not first-in, competitors with disruptive business models might try to use these emerging technologies against them. Key Findings The end goal for a fully software-driven and virtualized network is clear: A dynamic, on-demand global fabric where each application...