Cisco has launched a new network functions virtualisation (NFV) solution it claims can reduce the total cost of ownership of network infrastructure by as much as 40 per cent.
Cisco’s new NFV Infrastructure Solution (NFVI) combines virtual and physical technology, and provides the compute, storage, and networking infrastructure to seamlessly run NFV network services, the company said at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
South African operator Vodacom is already integrating Cisco’s NFVI, alongside its virtual packet core (VPC) solution, Cisco said.
Specifically, Cisco said its NFVI product can automate network operations, reduce network outages, improve OpenStack and Linux security, shorten service deployments, and simplify customer support. It is designed to work with Cisco’s VPC solution, which provides network functions as virtualised services for all mobile packet core services across 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, and small cell networks.
Kelly Ahuja, Senior Vice President of Cisco’s service provider business, said: “This solution is another step in delivering on our strategy for an open, modular and expandable network architecture. We are committed to helping our service provider customers embrace the network transformation toward virtualisation with the right foundation to successfully deploy virtualised network functions.”
Cisco has been fairly busy at MWC, but mostly in partnership with others. It has showcased multi-vendor NFV with Orange and Nokia. It has also confirmed work with Ericsson and Intel to develop and trial the industry’s first 5G router, offering speeds of 1GBps.
It is also working with Ericsson as part of a deal to overhaul 3 Italia’s IP backbone network as part of their agreement last year to jointly develop services for next-generation infrastructure.