Virtualised Packet Core passes portability testing

The thorough EANTC functionality tests involved LTE (4G) and 3G radio-access technologies using IPv4 and IPv6 and simulating the equivalent of 10,000 end users. The EANTC tests confirmed that the virtualized and physical evolved packet core (EPC) solution that supports the same features and functions as the Cisco Quantum vPC is completely hypervisor and hardware independent. The tests also confirmed that the Cisco Quantum vPC uses the same management software and interface that supports integrated services, such as network address translation, firewall and deep packet inspection.

“With all the discussions about visualization in the industry these days, it is nice to see a vendor ready for independent verification,” said Carsten Rossenhövel, EANTC managing director. “We were able to verify Cisco’s claims that their new virtualized packet core is based on the same Cisco StarOS code and provides the same look and feel as their Cisco ASR 5000 Series.”

EANTC also confirmed that the same LTE (4G) and 3G calls that are supported by the Cisco ASR 5000 Series are also supported by the virtual implementation and verified that functions such as high availability with session recovery, deep packet inspection and firewall/ network address translation worked as expected in the Cisco Unified Computing System™-based virtual implementation.

Such capabilities means that more than 300 service providers running the Cisco ASR 5000 Series can bypass the information technology integration costs normally associated with migration to a virtual environment, and simply extend the same code, functions and services to virtual implementations while continuing to work in a near seamless fashion with existing and new Cisco ASR 5000 Series infrastructure.

There are several advantages of combining physical and virtual environments. Virtual brings a lower entry cost, flexible deployment models and rapid time-to-market to enter multiple new markets like M2M or private mobile broadband (PMB), while physical brings carrier-grade performance and greater capacity. Service providers benefit from an agile hybrid environment in order to flex and grow to any combination of a market requirement.
Service Provider Customers Acceptance

With six times more network elements and applications virtualized than all major network competitors combined and orchestrated elements across wide-area network (WAN), data center and access technologies, Cisco is leading service providers at their own pace into virtualization.
Global service providers, including Osnova Telecom in Russia and Thales in France, are recognizing the importance of using intelligent networks that are flexible to deliver new experiences and expand revenue opportunities.

· “Creating federal LTE network in Russia, Osnova Telecom uses the most modern and effective solutions. We consider Cisco ASR 5000 Series as one of the most robust and elastic programmable network platforms available today. We trust Cisco and know that its packet core technologies work. We do not have to do a forklift upgrade to install the Cisco Quantum Virtualized Packet Core solution, which ensures that we have the ability to launch next-generation 4G LTE and provide high quality of service to our customers,” said Mikhail Petrov, CEO, Osnova Telecom.

· “Our Security and Defense Market is willing to leverage 4G technology to bring advanced applications to the field and improve operational efficiency. Nexium Wireless, Thales 4G mission-critical solution, delivers adapted 4G services to our customers with the right level of resilience and security. Nexium Wireless resilient [innovative] architecture is powered by Cisco Premium Mobile Broadband Solution. Partnering with Cisco has enabled Thales with a unique opportunity to bring the LTE technology quickly to the security and defense markets,” said Jean-Michel Lagarde, SVP, deputy, Secure Communications & Information Systems, Thales.

At a time when other vendors are offering initial demonstrations of their first isolated virtual products, Cisco has already deployed its integrated virtualized solution at several high-profile public events, such as the Republican and Democratic national political conventions and the National Football League’s annual Super Bowl.

As part of its service provider virtualization approach, Cisco does not see network functions virtualization (NfV) or software-defined networking (SDN) as isolated developments, but rather as part of the broader Cisco Evolved Services Platform, a comprehensive unified virtualization and orchestration software platform that creates, automates and provisions services in real time, across compute, storage and network functions, to deliver desired business outcomes for applications running across multiple domains.

Using a catalog of virtual functions such as the Cisco Quantum vPC and working in conjunction with the infrastructure, the Cisco ESP helps ensure the right type of experience for end users regardless of how or where they connect to the network (e.g., fixed, mobile, Wi-Fi). It represents a fundamental shift in the way service providers’ networks will be built and can result in significant operational cost savings through advanced automation capabilities and new revenue-generating opportunities from being able to personalize services.