More than four out of five operators will deploy network functions virtualisation in 2017, new research has found, although operators are concerned about integrating the technology into existing networks and have bemoaned the lack of carrier grade products.
A report from IHS found all operators expect to deploy NFV at some point, with 59 percent of respondents planning to do so this year.
Michael Howard, Senior Research Director Carrier Networks, IHS Markit, said NFV and software defined networking are seen as fundamental to how telecom network architecture will change towards automation and offer agile services, operational efficiency and capex savings.
During 2016, he added, operators have been moving from proof of concept tests and the lab to working with vendors on deployment strategies.
Howard said: “The carrier mind-set toward NFV is changing quickly. In 2014, there was one standout barrier: operations and business support systems (OSS/BSS). In 2015 and 2016, the top barriers—integrating NFV into existing networks and non-carrier-grade products—show that carriers are very serious about deploying NFV.
“The vast majority of early NFV deployments in the next year, and overall, will be for business virtualized enterprise customer premises equipment (vE-CPE), also known as vBranch or enterprise vCPE. Growing in importance over the last several years, business vE-CPE can assist with revenue generation because it allows operators to replace physical CPEs with software so they can quickly innovate and launch new services.”