Cisco and Telefónica have announced the creation of an advanced testing platform to jointly explore and capitalize on the benefits of converged IP and optical networks.
Convergence of IP and optical networks based on IETF standards makes it possible to unify the planning, management and engineering of optical network layers and IP network layers, with a consequent improvement in efficiency and cost savings.
Telefónica will be leveraging the Cisco Open Network Architecture comprised of the Evolved Services Platform (ESP) and Evolved Programmable Network (EPN) which combine both hardware and software to deliver innovative capabilities for global carriers. These capabilities include virtual network functions (NfV), software-defined networking (SDN) and advanced orchestration functionality.
Over the next two years, Cisco and Telefónica will be jointly using the Cisco WAN Automation Engine software, which automates and optimizes the engineering of the WAN network, provisioning flexible SLAs (Service Level Agreements) and ultimately, creating a better user experience.
Telefónica and Cisco will collaborate on different use cases extracted from the Telefónica network topology, including multilayer restoration, the creation of a multidomain route and a multilevel by-pass, all of this with a multi-vendor approach in order to guarantee compatibility between products from different manufacturers.
The tests will be based on various hardware solutions from Cisco and other vendors that are widely used in the market. Cisco gears included such as Cisco CRS Series routers and transport platform Cisco Network Convergence System 2000.
The testing platform with also be using Cisco nLight, which is multilayer control technology (GMPLS, Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching) facilitating the exchange of information between the IP and optical layers to optimize operations and maximize the benefits of a convergent transport network.
Telefónica will be validating models which help minimize investment cost (by means of redundant and underutilized resources) and to achieve a unified network architecture that is more efficient, less complex and easier to upscale, downscale and operate, enabling it to obtain significant savings in operating and capital costs.
The testing platform -located within Telefónica R&D facilities- is the first in its class in Spain, and consists of a multidisciplinary team formed by engineers and researchers from Cisco and Telefónica.