A proof-of-concept (PoC) between NetCracker and the United Arab Emirate carrier Etisalat UAE showed that residential customers can use a virtual device to order services.

Etisalat UAE is working with NetCracker and its parent company NEC on several virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) use cases, including the ability to let customers personalize their device controls through a self-service web portal.

Etisalat and NetCracker conducted a PoC that demonstrated the web portal and also showed how customers can extend a LAN to enable cloud-based Layer 2 services and content.

“The Etisalat PoC is focused on residential services,” says Mark Bieberich, senior director of strategy for SDN/NFV at NetCracker. “The PoC demonstrated the removal of higher-layer network functions from residential CPE devices, enabling a basic Layer 2 connection to the home. We also showed how end users can select higher-layer functions, such as a firewall, from a self-service portal.”

For the carrier, the vCPE means it can connect new customers while using less hardware and provision new services with fewer truck rolls. The vCPE will also help Etisalat enable IPv6-based Internet connectivity without the need for any on-site processes.