Here’s a roundup of news we've herded for you related to software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) from this week:

Palo Alto Networks’ virtual network function (VNF) for security will be integrated with Mirantis OpenStack. Palo Alto Networks has also joined Mirantis’s technology partner program.

The Spanish mobile operator Aire Networks selected Affirmed Networks, to provide a virtual evolved packet core (vEPC) platform. The win is Affirmed Networks' third customer deployment in Spain, it says.

Altiostar announced the availability of its virtual radio access network (vRAN) for the LTE and LTE-A markets based on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and open source software.

NEC is collaborating with Intel to develop a cloud RAN for virtualizing the functions of mobile base stations. The companies will start a joint proof of concept trial in early 2016. Intel is providing its processors and also performing software optimization.

Red Hat introduced OpenShift Dedicated, a cloud-based service targeting enterprise IT and development teams. It includes the Docker container and Kubernetes orchestration technologies, which are part of its OpenShift Enterprise 3.1.

NTT Communications is extending connectivity of its Multi-Cloud Connect to Microsoft ExpressRoute for Office 365. Direct access to ExpressRoute for Office 365 is expected to be ready in London in January 2016, followed by Tokyo in February. The extension will enable enterprises to more easily build a hybrid cloud environment.

Australia’s Academic and Research Network launched a wide-area SDN testbed in collaboration with nine universities. The testbed will make it easier for researchers in the fields of computer science, engineering, and mathematics to test SDN networking concepts.

Nexusguard unveiled Nexusguard AI, a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) security product with automated route engineering, powered by SDN.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced general availability of AWS IoT, the Internet of Things platform announced in October.

The Cloud Foundry Foundation launched a certification program for platform-as-a-service (PaaS).

Here’s what else SDxCentral has covered lately: