SDxCentral
Join Log In
SD-WAN 5G Edge 1 IoT SDN NFV Containers Cloud Security AI Data Center Storage APM/NPM Open Source

Log In to SDxCentral

Log in with your email? Forgot your password?
  • Newsletters
  • eBriefs
  • Podcasts
  • Webinars
  • Videos
  • Directory
  • White Papers
  • Resources
  • Use Cases
  • Support

Join SDxCentral and get information tailored to your particular interests everyday.

Join
Sponsored:
Dell EMC Citrix Riverbed

Ciena Launches Switch to Deploy VNFs at the Edge

Ciena Takes Niche Approach in Attacking the Edge
Dan Meyer
Dan MeyerNovember 9, 2017
12:12 pm MT
Email LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Reddit Hacker News

Ciena launched a trio of new programmable packet networking products and enhanced a current product focused on the growing movement toward edge deployments.

The first new product, dubbed the 3928, is a service delivery switch that support flexible power supplies often needed for edge deployments. John Hawkins, Ethernet product and technical marketing manager at Ciena, said this product is “really intended for a disaggregated NFV model” that can use either Ciena’s platform or an open source platform. “It really helps in deploying the VNFs [virtual network functions] out at the edge and can also accommodate legacy TDM services,” Hawkins said. “We get a lot of calls for this from utilities.”

He also noted the product was a good fit for a wireless uplink in case an edge deployment does not have access to fiber for backhaul. “It can use an LTE or upcoming 5G connection, though you are probably looking at a more modest amount of bandwidth,” Hawkins said.

The second product — the 3926m — is a 10-gigabit Ethernet platform that includes expansion slots for modules supporting third-party VNFs.

The final new product is the 5170, which is a service aggregation switch that can deliver 100-gigabit Ethernet to a customer premise using an x86 server, Ciena’s Service Aware Operating System (SAOS), and open VNF hosting capabilities.

The new products join the 15 platforms already offered by Ciena as part of its carrier packet networking family.

One of those is the 8700, which received an upgrade. Hawkins said that platform is now available with a doubling of capacity up to 100-Gb/s and is targeted at enterprise business services, mobile backhaul, and data center interconnect (DCI).

5G, IoT Targeted

Hawkins described three target market scenarios for the new products. These include “pre-build” for 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) where demands for backhaul are starting to build; multi-tenant support within “tall shiny buildings” and campus locations where “one tenant might lead your high-end service while others might just want efficient Internet access” without an overbuild; and a “colocation hotel kind of application” where operators are looking to exchange information within a single location.

Hawkins said the new platforms are targeted at the middle of the performance envelope. He explained Ciena was willing to give up some of the performance high-end for cost and energy consumption considerations.

“We are responding to the bandwidth demands from customers, but without breaking the bank in terms of the sheer amount of needed equipment,” Hawkins said. He noted two aspects Ciena is looking at with this tactic are allowing operators to build out only what they need, and having the right product for the right niche in the market.

“These are really about getting the right cost point for the right applications,” Hawkins said.

Analysts applauded Ciena’s move to the edge, with Ovum analyst Mike Sapien noting operators are beginning to feel the pinch from “bandwidth-hogging applications.”

“Customers putting more intelligence at the edge is creating this demand in their core networks,” Sapien noted in a statement.

And, of course, there is the market opportunity for Ciena.

Timon Sloane, VP of marketing and ecosystem at the Open Networking Foundation (ONF), recently noted the organization sees a $300 billion market opportunity tied to work in transforming network edge sites to modern data centers.

Related Articles

Ericsson Touts 4 Cellular IoT Segments to Serve Industry Verticals
Ericsson Touts 4 Cellular IoT Segments to Serve Industry Verticals
Sprint Trumpets 5G Data Call on 2
Sprint Trumpets 5G Data Call on 2.5 GHz Spectrum
ricsson-Makes-Provisions-of-687M-to-Overhaul-BSS-Unit
Ericsson Takes $687M Charge to Overhaul BSS Unit
ZTE Spent 2018 Engulfed in International Intrigue
ZTE Spent 2018 Engulfed in International Intrigue
Nokia Threat Report: IoT Botnets Skyrocketed in 2018 and 5G Will Make It Worse
Nokia Threat Report: IoT Botnets Skyrocketed in 2018 and 5G Will Make It Worse
ZTE Led Q3 Surge in Optical Transport Revenues Dell’Oro Report Says
ZTE Led Q3 Surge in Optical Transport Revenues, Dell’Oro Report Says
SDxCentral Daily News

Join your Peers! Subscribe to SDxCentral's Newsletter

Article Tags:

5G Breaking News Ciena IoT Optical

Dan Meyer

About Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer is a Senior Editor at SDxCentral, with a focus on containers, lifecycle service orchestration, cloud automation and DevOps. Dan has been covering the telecommunications space for more than 17 years. Prior to SDxCentral, Dan was Editor-In-Chief at RCR Wireless News.

Have a story? Have a News Tip?

Send it to SDxCentral editors as editors@sdxcentral.com.

Subscribe to Get the Daily News!

About SDxCentral

  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us
  • Editorial Team
  • Careers
  • Legal
  • Support

Engage With us

This material may not be copied, reproduced, or modified in whole or in part for any purpose except with express written permission from an authorized representative of SDxCentral, LLC. In addition to such written permission to copy, reproduce, or modify this document in whole or part, an acknowledgement of the authors of the document and all applicable portions of the copyright notice must be clearly referenced. All Rights Reserved.

© 2012-2019 SDxCentral, LLC, All Rights Reserved. SDNCentral™, the SDNCentral logo, SDxCentral™, SDxCentral logo, SDxNews™, SDxTech™, SDx™, the SDx logo, and DemoFriday™ are trademarks of SDxCentral, LLC in the U.S. and other countries.

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy