Comcast Business, ECI, Sparkle, Tata Communications and Viavi Win 2016 MEF Excellence Award for Third Network Proof of Concept Innovation

Recognizing that enterprises today have diverse requirements; the Third Network combines the performance and security assurances together with the agility and ubiquity of the Internet and brings a new network experience to millions of new users.

This award-winning collaboration was designed to showcase how a customer could gain access to flexible bandwidth and applications on-demand without human intervention – enabling unprecedented levels of network control for new and evolving types of cloud-centric applications, for network connectivity services within current network architectures as well as emerging SDN and NFV implementations. For service providers, additional upsides include the drastic reduction of service turn-up time.

During the PoC, the joint innovation simulated the delivery of Ethernet services through the three different network service providers, via an orchestrated environment with flexible bandwidth deployed on demand and connectivity bursting to Amazon Web Services (AWS) when needed.

"The Proof of Concept Showcase allowed MEF16 attendees to witness, first-hand, leading-edge implementations of agile/dynamic, assured, and orchestrated Third Network services powered by LSO, SDN, NFV, and CE 2.0," said Nan Chen, president of MEF. "We congratulate Comcast Business, Sparkle, Tata Communications, ECI, and Viavi on winning a coveted Proof of Concept Award for demonstrating the ability to provision on-demand Carrier Ethernet services across multiple network operators and multiple technology platforms."

The PoC showcased how a CE 2.0 E-Line service with a bandwidth on-demand requirement can be provisioned and orchestrated across multiple service and cloud providers using the MEF LSO Reference Architecture. Comcast Business, Tata Communications and Sparkle provided the originating network, the intermediate network and the direct connection into the cloud, respectively. ECI's EPIC platform with fulfillment functionality developed as part of the OpenLSO fulfillment project provided the means to seamlessly connect these disparate domains. Viavi's VNF-based service acceptance and testing technology verified the newly created service meets previously defined SLA requirements. The EPIC open source platform works towards a "vendor-agnostic" vision to deliver real-time control and assure network performance across carriers.

More information about the PoC can be found here.

About MEF
MEF is the driving force enabling Third Network services for the digital economy and the hyper-connected world. The Third Network concept combines the agility and ubiquity of the internet with the assurance and security of CE 2.0. Third Network services provide an on-demand, orchestrated, and assured experience with user-directed control over network resources and cloud connectivity. Third Network services are delivered over automated, virtualized, and interconnected networks powered by LSO, SDN, NFV, and CE 2.0.

MEF leverages its global 210+ network operator and technology vendor community, builds upon the robust $80 billion Carrier Ethernet market, and provides a practical evolution to the Third Network with LSO, SDN, and NFV implementations that build upon a CE 2.0 foundation.  See www.MEF.net for more information.

About Comcast Business
Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by a next-generation, fiber-based network, and backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing provider of Ethernet services.

For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.

About ECI
ECI is a global provider of ELASTIC network solutions to CSPs, critical infrastructures as well as data center operators. Along with its long-standing, industry-proven packet-optical transport, ECI offers a variety of SDN/NFV applications, end-to-end network management, a comprehensive cyber security solution, and a range of professional services. ECI's ELASTIC solutions ensure open, future-proof, and secure communications. With ECI, customers have the luxury of choosing a network that can be tailor-made to their needs today as well as seamlessly and cost effectively upgraded to meet future requirements. For more information, visit us at www.ecitele.com.

About Sparkle
Sparkle is the wholly owned subsidiary of Telecom Italia Group (NYSE:TI) with the mission to develop and consolidate the Italian telco's international services business.  As a leading global carrier and through a global backbone of around 560.000 km of fiber, Sparkle offers a full range of IP, Data, Cloud, Data Center, Mobile Data and Voice solutions to fixed and mobile operators, Internet service providers, Media and Content providers and to Multinational enterprises. Its sales force is active worldwide and distributed over 37 countries. Find out more about Telecom Italia Sparkle at www.tisparkle.com or www.world.tisparkle.com.

About Tata Communications
Tata Communications Limited (CIN no: L64200MH1986PLC039266) along with its subsidiaries (Tata Communications) is a leading global provider of A New World of Communications™. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

The Tata Communications global network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks and a Tier-1 IP network with connectivity to over 240 countries and territories across 400 PoPs, as well as nearly 1 million square feet of data centre and collocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications' depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services and leadership in global international voice. Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. http://www.tatacommunications.com

During MEF16, Tata Communications was awarded MEF Excellent Awards 2016 for:

• Wholesale Service Provider of the Year - APAC
• Best Enterprise Application Award - Media 
• Third Network Proof of Concept

About Viavi Solutions
Viavi (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions to communications service providers, enterprises and their ecosystems, supported by a worldwide channel community including Viavi Velocity Solution Partners. We deliver end-to-end visibility across physical, virtual and hybrid networks, enabling customers to optimize connectivity, quality of experience and profitability. Viavi is also a leader in high performance thin film optical coatings, providing light management solutions to anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, automotive, defense and instrumentation markets. Learn more about Viavi at www.viavisolutions.com. Follow us on Viavi Perspectives, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. TATA COMMUNICATIONS and TATA are trademarks of Tata Sons Limited in certain countries.

US Media Inquiries:
Sonus PR for Viavi Solutions
Micah Warren
+1 (609) 247-6525
[email protected]

EMEA Media Inquiries:
Sonus PR for Viavi Solutions
Chevaan Seresinhe
+44 20 3751 0330
[email protected]

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