Ericsson released what it’s calling its “verified” network functions virtualization infrastructure (NFVi) platform. Ericsson has previously announced NFV contracts with various operators, including Telstra, Swisscom, Telefonica, and SoftBank.

But its current announcement is more about pulling all its NFVi products together in an offering that is modular, so that pieces can be mixed and matched to suit a service provider’s unique needs.

Ericsson's NFVi platform consists of both hardware and software. Its Hyperscale Datacenter System 8000 (HDS 8000) and its Blade Server Platform (BSP8000) comprise the hardware elements. Software includes its Cloud Execution Environment, its Cloud Manager, and its Cloud SDN. The company also offers consulting, system integration, and support services.

The modular components can be deployed in different scenarios, ranging from full decoupling of NFV components from different vendors to a full stack from Ericsson.

The Swedish telecom equipment company says its NFVi platform is a first step for telcos to build the infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Ericsson has especially been touting its HDS 8000 for NFV use. It’s the company's monster rack-scale computing/storage box, built with Intel.

Asked who verified its NFVi solution, Ericsson said in an email to SDxCentral that it collaborates with customers and vendor partners. It also actively engages in several industry standardization and open source groups. "The solution is based on the OPNFV reference architecture," writes an Ericsson spokesperson.

It addition, Ericsson is active in ETSI’s NFV working groups as well as the Openstack community.