In the parts of CenturyLink’s network where it’s deploying newer passive optical networking (PON), it’s also looking at deploying software-defined access (SD-Access) technology.

CenturyLink deployed a field trial of Adtran’s virtualized optical line terminal (OLT) 10G-PON system with Adtran’s Mosaic operating system to create SD-Access.

The service provider is rolling out some 10 gigabit symmetrical PON (XGS-PON) and some next-generation PON (NG-PON2). These technologies use a single fiber optical cable, which is then split to serve multiple end points at the access layer. Those end points can be both residential or enterprise.

Adtran’s Mosaic operating system gives CenturyLink a way to interact with that PON technology to create a service, starting from a customer order and provisioning it through the network down to that customer, explained Ryan McCowan, director of portfolio management with Adtran.

“Mosaic software runs in the cloud,” said McCowan. “It’s about defining the interfaces over which a service provider like CenturyLink communicates with the equipment that terminates the fiber to create, monitor, and manage the services. It changes how they interact with their equipment.”

In the legacy parts of their networks, service providers use various software systems to create a service. “It takes a lot of money and time stitching that service across the network,” said McCowan. “SD-Access provides common, modern programming interfaces across the network. Mosaic is our SDN controller and orchestration software that provides that layer.”

Adtran’s Linux-based Mosaic operating system can work on copper connections as well as fiber. But in CenturyLink’s case, it’s using it initially with its new PON technologies.

For its part, Adtran is also one of a group of vendors working with Verizon on an NG-PON2 specification — the OpenOMCI spec. The work is designed to optimize the number of managed entities and methods that can be used to deploy a service function without the use of vendor-proprietary technology.