ECI today launched a virtualized SD-WAN application built for universal CPE (uCPE). The SD-WAN technology will offer automatic application-aware WAN path control, bandwidth control, traffic policy and optimization, and security capabilities.

ECI is an Israel-based provider of network services for service providers, infrastructures, network operators and data center operators. While its portfolio includes packet and optical network services, the virtual SD-WAN application will be a part of its Muse network and service suite.

Muse is a modular architecture that includes both networking and security applications, but creates a separation between applications and infrastructure. It also provides lifecycle management, maintenance, provisioning, planning, and analytics for applications.

The Muse SD-WAN application will be able to run on either ECI’s uCPE or third-party uCPEs.

In a blog post, Jonathan Homa, senior director of portfolio marketing at ECI, wrote about the emergence of uCPE, comparing it to the rise and prominence of the personal computer.

“In an almost identical fashion to the emergence of the personal computer forty years ago, uCPE is a general-purpose platform for business communications services,” he wrote. “It is equipped with a wide array of fixed and wireless communications interfaces facing inwards to the business and outwards to the network, powerful processors, and an operating system tuned for running business communications applications.”

For uCPE, he continues, the opportunity is mainly for service providers to “fuse together virtualized delivery of SD-WAN, along with a customizable suite of business communication services, all running on a uCPE platform.” This will make it possible for customers to go to one shop for all business networking and communications services.

According to Homa, “ECI is betting on the inevitability of this approach,” referring to uCPE with its Muse suite and its virtual applications, including the SD-WAN.

The company claims that alongside the Muse SD-WAN, multiple virtual network functions (VNFs) will be able to run on a uCPE platform. Per the uCPE location this could include virtual services for voice, video, security, WAN optimization, DDoS, encryption, and IT applications like storage.

And, as with ECI’s other offerings, it is based on ETSI’s standards, open architectures, and open APIs. This, the company says, will allow the ECI services to be applied to any virtualized environment, which will be particularly helpful in migration to future 5G environments.

As Homa noted, uCPE is rising in prevalence, held back somewhat by challenges of cost. However, a number of service providers are working on uCPE offerings, and SD-WAN vendors are working on virtual SD-WANs that will run on the hardware.

IHS Markit projected in its “uCPE Hardware Biannual Report” that this market would increase from $7.7 million in 2017 to $1.02 billion in 2022.

Sanjay Uppal, the vice president and general manager of VeloCloud, told SDxCentral that while in the past uCPE was something for the rich, hardware providers such as Telco Systems, Adva, and Ekinops are starting to streamline the process and make it possible.

Telco Systems has recently announced uCPE partnerships with VMware-Velocloud SD-WAN and FatPipe Networks, in which it will offer the SD-WAN technology in a pre-integrated uCPE as part of its NFVTime Suite.

Comcast Business is currently working on a uCPE that can run multiple VNFs. Sprint, which offers a managed SD-WAN service, is also evaluating uCPE options because it adds more flexibility for its customers. Orange Business Services has also been looking at uCPE, but still sees the market as not ready yet. This is largely due to the high cost of hardware and software licensing for VNFs.