This is not about creating data centers and putting them into telecom central offices and exchanges or broadband vendors building data centers solutions. It’s about applying the principles that data center networks have employed to create a better broadband network connecting the cloud/data center edge to the subscriber edge. It is about applying the lessons learned – after all, SDN and NFV principles have been leveraged for years within the data center industry.
When I refer to broadband networks, I am talking about advanced fixed network technologies like 10Gps Passive Optical Networks (10G PON), e.g. ITU-T G.989 (NG-PON2). Broadband in this context means supporting both Gigabit residential and premium business services delivery as well as mobile backhaul, fronthaul and C-RAN network support.
The fundamental data center principles which are being leveraged to advance these next-generation broadband networks include:
Applying data center principles to network means promoting the economic advantages of data center architecture, which include:
It is paramount, especially for larger, multi-domain, multi-vendor network operators to balance service velocity with the network traffic growth driven by consumer demand and OTT service models. In acknowledgement of this, open, programmable and scalable ITU-T NG-PON2 solutions are being developed to support the desired rapid creation of new user-enabled services while also drastically lowering the total cost per bit delivered. This will go a long way to restoring economic balance.
To learn more about this topic, check out the archived webinar with ADTRAN and US Telecom, “Data Center Architectures for Next-Gen Broadband and Business Networks."