Mycom OSI has announced an NFV (network functions virtualisation) system that automatically directs NFV orchestration actions based on end-to-end service assurance factors, such as faults and QoS degradations, across hybrid, traditional and virtual networks.
Whilst NFV offers substantial benefits in the cost and agility of operating networks through highly dynamic and automated VNF (virtual network function) deployment and elastic scaling, a key challenge for CSPs is how to maintain end-to-end network and service quality – which may cause up to 50% of customers to churn – across such a dynamic hybrid (virtual and physical) network.
An additional challenge is that industry standards and solution providers are currently focusing first on the implementation of the VNFs and the NFV management and orchestration environment rather than the complexities of controlling how VNF introduction impacts overall network and service quality, which could be highly detrimental if not managed adequately.
Mycom OSI’s solution for NFV addresses these challenges: rather than NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) being used solely to make decisions for fulfillment functions, MYCOM OSI’s solution augments this role and utilises the MANO for operational network quality improvement and assurance purposes. The solution continually collects and processes very large volumes of Customer and near real-time service assurance data from across the entire network, automates cross-domain analysis, and issues preventive and corrective recommendations to the NFV orchestrator. Finally, to close the loop, Mycom OSI’s solution continues to monitor the resulting performance to determine success or instigate further actions.
“NFV orchestration should not be made in isolation of the overall network as otherwise there is a significant risk that the quality of overall network and services will suffer, and competing on network quality is a key business objective for progressive leading CSPs,” the president and CTO of Mycom OSI said. “ Mounir Ladki, President and CTO of MYCOM OSI, “CSPs can deploy their NFV environments and maintain network and service quality not just within the NFV environment itself but also in the context of the overall network, which should help them mitigate the risks associated with introducing VNFs into the otherwise purpose-built physical network environments. But to do this, you need proven solutions that collect and process vast amounts of multi-domain network, service and customer data in near real time and execute sophisticated cross-domain operational processes all within an automated closed-loop process.”
