Infinera and Telefónica are demonstrating Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) in a multi-layer environment using a software defined networking (SDN) approach. The collaboration highlighted the power of an open SDN approach and how it can unleash the innovation of a carrier like Telefónica.
As a first step in the collaboration, Telefónica developed its own multi-layer IETF-based Application Based Network Operations (ABNO) controller which included the path computation functions to control both the IP/MPLS layer as well as the Infinera transport layer. Telefónica was then able to rapidly integrate their ABNO controller with Infinera’s programmable SDN Open Transport Switch (OTS) running in conjunction with Infinera’s Intelligent Transport Network platforms leveraging both the OpenFlow protocol and Infinera’s RESTful application programming interface (API).
Telefónica also integrated the ABNO controller with a brand name router to support multi-layer integration. In aggregate, this SDN demonstration allowed end users to define MPLS services from a single screen, resulting in the dynamic allocation and configuration of associated networking resources at both the IP/MPLS layer and the transport layer. With the speed and automation NaaS delivers, service providers can deploy services faster, more efficiently, and at lower cost.
Specifically this demonstration illustrated:
- How SDN can allow service providers like Telefónica to unleash their creativity and innovation to develop new multi-layer services rapidly and free from the constraints of proprietary operating systems and traditional element management systems.
- An SDN control framework based on IETF’s ABNO proposal and its ability to be implemented to support the orchestration and provisioning of services across a multi-vendor, multi-layer IP/MPLS and optical transport network.
- A working prototype controller developed by Telefónica using multi-layer PCE for networking Layers 1 and 3, demonstrating how SDN technologies and a logically centralized control plane approach can help realize dynamic NaaS capabilities on carrier backbones.
- Infinera’s Open Transport Switch, a lightweight Web 2.0 software construct that abstracts and virtualizes the underlying transport network resources so they can be easily programmed via a controller. The purpose-built design of OTS for SDN solutions is to enable rapid innovation, in contrast to other transport solutions that repurpose large and heavyweight Element Management Systems (EMS) in their SDN implementations.
- NaaS and its ability to enable network operators to offer user-initiated connectivity services to multiple customers on top of a common physical infrastructure, empowering the customer to request bandwidth services as needed, without manual intervention.
“This demonstration with Infinera is the type of research and development that puts us on the forefront of testing new technologies that continually reduce deployment time, the number of manual operations, and deliver more dynamic connections on our network,” said Víctor López, responsible for SDN transport innovation activities in Telefónica I+D/GCTO.
“By working closely with the advanced research center at Telefónica I+D we are able to keep our finger on the pulse of network operator requirements for next-generation transport networks,” said Chris Liou, vice president, network strategy at Infinera. “These Network-as-a-Service demonstrations highlight an application for software defined networks that is gaining traction with global carriers.”
