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Pillar: No-Code OSS

Network Virtualization for the Cable Industry

In a context where Network Virtualization is nearby, cable providers need to move functionality closer to the end user and give customers flexibility. Replacing dedicated hardware with virtual functions accomplishes all, while reducing har…

By Symphonica Team

TL;DR

In a context where Network Virtualization is nearby, cable providers need to move functionality closer to the end user and give customers flexibility. Replacing dedicated hardware with virtual functions accomplishes all, while reducing hardware and energy costs.

Key takeaways

  • Virtualization of network functions will reshape cable networks.
  • The change has already started, with Comcast and Nokia among the adopters.
  • Cable providers need to keep their market share.

Virtualization of network functions will reshape cable networks. The change has already started, with Comcast and Nokia among the adopters. Cable providers need to keep their market share. They need to move functionality closer to the end user and give customers flexibility. Replacing dedicated hardware with virtual functions accomplishes all this. Also, it reduces hardware and energy costs.

Communication Service Providers are feeling pressure to morph into digital system providers (DSPs). How do they do that and what difference does it make?

ActiveCore

In September 2017, Comcast announced the ActiveCore SDN. Designed to “unlock the power of virtualized networks,” it’s used in Comcast Business SD-WAN. The result is letting customers add functionality without having to get specialized hardware. Customers can track all functions through a single dashboard. DOCSIS 3.1 allows gigabit network speeds, and the platform enables easy integration of third-party software.

Many VNFs can run on the equipment at the customer site, making them easy to manage and update. Comcast’s aims to compete against the existing telecom MPLS market. Using the flexibility of the SDN and virtualization brings more flexible networking at a lower cost.

Unified Cable Access

A month after Comcast’s announcement, Nokia informed Unified Cable Access. It’s launching the virtualized architecture in collaboration with the WOW network. Headends and hubs don’t need cable-specific hardware with this approach. They can use standard equipment for TCP/IP networks and handle both fiber and coax with a single solution.

Unified Cable Access runs a virtualized DAA. That way, it reduces power consumption and rack space compared to the traditional CMTS. Access nodes can use remote PHY or remote MACPHY. The virtualized CMTS can run in a data center or as close to the customer’s equipment as necessary. WOW hosts the MAC and PHY layers at the network edge.

Advances in Software

The virtualized platforms from Comcast and Nokia appear to be based on proprietary software. Yet, open source promises to speed up the adoption of virtualization. The SNAPS platform (a forced acronym for SDN/NFV Application Development Platform and OpenStack) provides one of the key pieces. SNAPS builds on the popular OpenStack cloud platform. It aims to make the development of NFV applications easier. Also, to ensure transparent infrastructure APIs, and to simplify integration testing.

SNAPS provides a lightweight wrapper over OpenStack. It uses multiple OpenStack projects to make the highest use of existing code and maintain vendor independence. Software built on SNAPS doesn’t have to be rewritten for a multiplicity of APIs. Applications become ready for deployment more quickly. They’re less likely to have environment-specific bugs too.

SNAPS was an important part of the Proof of Concept of multi-level orchestration, presented by Intraway at the 2018 CableLabs Summer Conference. SNAPS and its OpenStack Installer provide a practical demonstration that virtualization permits interoperability. Symphonica Orchestrator manages it all. With these tools, cable operators will be able to bring together software from multiple vendors smoothly.

One of the latest developments is SNAPS-Kubernetes. Using Kubernetes’ automated deployment capabilities to facilitate software installation and updates, it supports Docker containers. It will add other deployment environments later.

Cloud-based broadband

Cisco has announced a Cloud Native Broadband Router. It’s called a “full software rewrite” of CCAP services. The software builds on open-source software such as Docker and Kubernetes. Replacing a CCAP based on dedicated hardware with a cloud service, it reduces power costs and server space. It also scales easily and permits rapid software deployment. This is a major shift for a hardware-oriented company like Cisco. It’s likely that other vendors are already planning to follow suit.

The dependence on specialized hardware has been burden cable companies. It has added to their costs and limited their ability to deploy services. The move to virtualization will let them run all their services on standard computer hardware. The services can be based in a data center, at the network edge, or on the customer’s premises.

Streaming data is grabbing an increasing part of the traditional cable market. Top-quality, high-speed TCP/IP delivery has become an essential part of cable services. By virtualizing their networks, providers will be in a better position to meet customers’ demands and compete in a rapidly evolving market.

Communication Service Providers are feeling pressure to morph into digital system providers (DSPs). How do they do that and what difference does it make?

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