Equipment maker Adtran is jumping on the software-defined networking (SDN) bandwagon. The company has introduced what it's calling a software-defined access architecture, Mosaic, which it says will help service providers using technologies like NG-PON2 and G.fast make the transition to open, programmable networks.

The Mosaic portfolio includes the Mosaic Cloud platform that combines modular apps with open source control and orchestration platforms; Mosaic OS, a Linux-based operating system optimized for SDN programmability; and the Programmable Network Elements, a multivendor networking software that integrates natively with open SDN-controlled access networks.

Robert Conger, Adtran's assistant VP of carrier strategies, says that Mosaic takes certain aspects that are applied to SDN and network functions virtualization (NFV) and applies them to the access network. “A lot of vendors are saying they do SDN and NFV. We are focused on the cloud edge and providing broadband access to the customer premises,” Conger says.

Adtran said that Mosaic will be particularly helpful to service providers that need more time to deploy SDN but want to ensure that their underlying network is SDN-ready. Mosaic Cloud will help by providing a set of translation applications that allow natively SDN-controlled access architecture to be deployed with the existing OSS. This would let carriers speed up their deployments of SDN without having to make big changes to their existing systems.

Likewise Mosaic OS works with Mosaic Cloud by providing an access technology and chipset-agnostic OS that supports component-based, multivendor applications.

Adtran says Mosaic is a culmination of work done in partnership with customers, and that it is making a long-term investment in the modular webscale technology.

Conger says that new services like streaming video are all part of a user-driven experience that often requires service providers to schedule a truck roll if someone needs a change to their package or a new service. The Mosaic architecture makes the network programmable and drives operational efficiencies.

“From the consumer perspective, this is better – they want something on demand. And service providers that can do that will be more successful," Conger adds.