AT&T, Orange Team Up To Work on SDN, NFV Open Source and Standardization InitiativesAT&T and Orange Collaborate on Open Source and Standardization Initiatives for Software-Defined NetworkingAT&T announced today it is collaborating with Orange to accelerate the standardization of software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologiesAT&T and Orange have signed an agreement to collaborate on open source and standardization initiatives that will accelerate the standardization of software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologies. The companies are aligning on a strategic vision to move intelligence from customer hardware to the network, reducing cost and complexity. This effort will help the industry and business customers move faster towards a more agile, flexible and on-demand networking future. Today, deploying new virtual network services and functions is complex. Network service providers (NSPs) and businesses alike have to deal with proprietary standards, closed architectures and multiple equipment vendors that have different platforms and specifications. AT&T and Orange will identify appropriate forums for industry standardization discussions to drive standardization efforts forward. By introducing common standards and interfaces, the industry would simplify technological integration, increase operational efficiency and reduce costs, resulting in shorter deployment cycles and a faster pace of innovation. Building SDN and NFV technologies on common, open and interoperable standards will help solve today's challenges by delivering highly secure, intelligent, application-aware networking. This benefits both NSPs and business customers by enabling them to deploy services faster, customize their infrastructures in near real-time, and innovate more easily within an ecosystem of interoperable service and equipment providers. 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 will concentrate on the following areas:
"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," said Didier Duriez, Senior Vice President, Global Solutions, Orange Business Services. Source: AT&T release |