Orange is trialling AT&T’s software-defined network platform in Poland as it looks to virtualise services for residential customers.
The Enhanced Control, Orchestration, Management & Policy (ECOMP) platform allows operators to design and operate software-centric networks that run on virtual machines rather than physical network architectures.
Orange began testing the platform last September.
The Poland trial will focus on the creation of a set of virtual Customer Premises Equipment (vCPE) services for residential customers, with some vCPE services moved to a cloud environment and managed by ECOMP.
Amdocs is the technology integrator for ECOMP, having signed a deal with AT&T in July 2016, and will work with Orange on its trial.
Orange said it wanted to understand how ECOMP could reduce the time to market of NFV technologies and services, and to assess its impact on jobs and processes, as well as how it can be used by network designers and engineers.
The France-based operator said it intends to follow the trial with a roll-out across its global footprint in 28 countries.
“In the future, these cutting-edge technologies will give customers completely new possibilities, such as the ability to self-activate and deactivate services, or to enjoy flexible rating, based on the time they consumed the service,” commented Piotr Muszyński, Orange Polska VP in charge of Strategy and Transformation. “The operator, on the other hand, will receive tools that allow real-time adaptation to meet the customer needs.”
It is the latest in a slew of virtualisation announcements this year.
This week, Telefónica and Huawei revealed plans to build a virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) that will allow converged voice and data to be provided on 4G networks across 13 countries.
Finnish operator Elisa tested technology with Nokia that allows cellular base stations to be moved to and managed in the cloud.
Finally, in Belarus, velcom shifted its 2G and 3G traffic to the cloud after completing a nine-month virtualisation project with ZTE.