Verizon Announces Software Defined Networking Strategy

NEW YORK, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon, working closely with a number of its key technology partners – Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Juniper Networks and Nokia Networks – announced today it is transforming its network by implementing a software defined network architecture, laying the groundwork for new innovative services and applications. This SDN-based architecture is designed to introduce new operational efficiencies and allow for the enablement of rapid and flexible service delivery to Verizon's customers.

SDN is a new approach to designing, building and managing communications networks. It enables network programmability leveraging a centralized controller and orchestrator to program network flows. This centralized network control will drive a number of key customer facing benefits, including:

• Elastic, scalable, network-wide service creation and near real-time service delivery.
• Operational agility via dynamic resource allocation and management as well as automation of network operations.

Verizon has a long history of driving significant technology shifts with support from its technology suppliers. Verizon was the first major carrier to deploy a large-scale fiber-to-the-home strategy; the first to launch a nationwide 3G network; and the first national carrier to broadly deploy LTE. Today's announcement highlights Verizon's ongoing efforts to change the way it designs, develops and manages its networks. 

To enable its network vision, Verizon and its technology vendors have co-authored a comprehensive SDN network architecture document, which includes all interface specifications and reference architectures plus requirements for both the control layer and forwarding box functions. This network architecture document will enable Verizon's key technology partners to develop solutions to achieve the business and technical benefits of an SDN-enabled network.

Much of the foundational work required to deliver on Verizon's next-generation network has been underway for several years. Verizon has created live lab environments in San Jose, California; Tampa, Florida; and Waltham, Massachusetts, and has commercial data center environments on both the East and West Coasts.

Following are quotes from executives at Verizon and its major SDN technology partners:

"Verizon and our key technology partners have always focused on providing high-performance networks for our customers, and with this SDN architecture we will continue to ensure our network and services meet the needs of our customers, today and in the future."
- Roger Gurnani, Verizon chief information and technology architect

"Verizon shares our vision of a future network that provides seemingly limitless capacity and is able to instantly adapt to the needs of businesses and consumers. We know this can be possible with virtualization, SDN technology and the ability to tap into the power of a strong, tightly paired IP and optical backbone network capable of handling people's insatiable appetite to connect, share and consume content."
- Marcus Weldon, Alcatel-Lucent president of Bell Labs and chief technology officer

"Verizon and Cisco have a long-standing technology and business relationship, and we are pleased to play a key role in Verizon's next-generation, software-defined network architecture. This will become the foundation for innovative, new Verizon services and applications. Both companies share a vision to transform the entirety of the network architecture to achieve the speed and operational efficiency required to meet the needs of today, as well as capture the growth opportunities to monetize with the Internet of Everything over the next decade and beyond."
- John Chambers, Cisco chairman and chief executive officer

"We look forward to joining forces with Verizon in defining the industry shift towards SDN-based network architecture. Our joint efforts started in 2009, with the successful large scale introduction of LTE. We are now ready to leverage Ericsson's strength in software and services to provide a robust network transformation that will benefit Verizon and its customers."
- Hans Vestberg, Ericsson president and chief executive officer

"Juniper is pleased to continue its long-standing collaboration with Verizon. We share a common vision for agile, automated and accelerated service creation enabled by SDN. Network innovation is fundamental to deploying highly scalable, secure and efficient cloud environments that adapt in real time. As a leader in high-performance networking, Juniper will team up with Verizon to deploy their SDN initiative to serve their customers' ever-changing needs."
- Rami Rahim, Juniper Networks chief executive officer

"Cloud technologies hold the promise for true innovation in our industry. We are pleased to extend our strong relationship with Verizon beyond core software, rich communication technologies and services into the exciting area of software defined network solutions for the next generation of their intelligent, connected network."
- Rajeev Suri, Nokia president and chief executive officer

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 108.6 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide. A Dow 30 company with more than $127 billion in 2014 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 176,200. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/news/.

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SOURCE Verizon

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