FEATURE: SDN
to limit on-site expertise, leading to
significant operational savings.
However, the road for adopting software-
defined networking and network
functions virtualisation has multiple
challenges, according to Alexandre
Gibouin, International Business
Development, Connectivity Business
Unit, Indirect Africa, Middle East, Russia
Region, Orange Business Services.
Types of SDN gateways (Image courtesy of Juniper Networks)
businesses more agile. It also helps
in improved network performance,
the ability to manage the end-to-
end network, and a solid network
architecture and design that provides
a future roadmap consideration. The
result is a modern infrastructure that
can deliver new applications and
services in minutes, rather than days
or weeks, as required in the past. In
addition to helping reduce operational
expenditure, software-defined
networking will also help create new
revenue streams in future.
Orange skirts vendor lock-in
Software-defined networks, software-
defined WAN and network functions
virtualisation, represent a logical
continuity of two major evolutions,
which are network hybridisation and
cloud. With hybrid networks, enterprises
are now able to unlock bandwidth
bottlenecks to their branch offices, and
accelerate adoption of collaboration
and cloud services.
To run an enterprise connected to a
hybrid network, end users need routers,
firewall, WAN optimiser, LAN switch,
Wi-Fi access point. Imagine if all these
functions could be virtualised and
run from a single box using software.
Trials of such a new box, which delivers
critical network functions are ongoing
at Orange. For customers, it means
no more capital expenditures, ability
“Software-defined
networking is especially
effective for sectors
like banking and
telecommunications,
which have several
hundred locations and
complex networks.”
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“The first challenge is to select a
carrier class and future proof software-
defined networking platform. Orange
is partnering with industry leaders
who have a track record of delivering
enterprise grade services on a global
scale. The second challenge is to avoid
vendor lock-in, which should not be the
price to pay. Orange Business Services
has adopted a multi-vendor approach
and will continue to offer best-of-breed
technology. Finally, each customer
should be able to transition to software-
defined networking at their own pace,”
explains Gibouin.
The adoption of software-defined
networking and network functions
virtualisation is starting with early
adopters and will become generalised
between 2018-2020. Customers are
typically engaging in trials on a few sites
before considering the full adoption
across their networks. By selecting the
right partner, enterprises can safely start
planning their transition to software-
defined networking and network
functions virtualisation. It is also about
increased agility and flexibility delivered
by central orchestration.
“As a middle term evolution, we
anticipate more and more customers to
consume software-defined networking
services through APIs which will
facilitate the integration and e-bonding
with their own ITSM platform. Orange
Business Services is developing the
necessary APIs to digitalise our core
services including connectivity, unified
communication, security and cloud
services. The central orchestration of
these resources will deliver agility to
service providers like Orange Business
Services to deliver communication
services driven by customer usage and
applications,” adds Gibouin.
www.intelligentcio.com