NTT DOCOMO has used Ericsson’s cloud platform to launch what has been claimed is the world’s first commercial, multi-vendor NFV solution.
Ericsson said the platform would provide interoperability and connectivity to any kind of carrier grade virtualised network function and software defined network.
The platform comprises the Openstack-based Ericsson Cloud Execution Environment, which serves as the virtualisation platform, and its Cloud Manager, which acts as the NFV orchestrator.
Ericsson also handled system integration and support services on the solution, which initially supports multi-vendor evolved packet core.
On Friday, NEC revealed it was the vendor providing the vEPC, which virtualised DOCOMO’s core LTE network.
The vendor said this deployment means DOCOMO can speed up the delivery of new services over a stable and interoperable network.
Seizo Onoe, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at NTT DOCOMO, said: “DOCOMO has again demonstrated its technology leadership by the launch of multi-vendor NFV. I am extremely excited to see this progress to provide better services based on standardized future-proof architecture.”
Anders Lindblad, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Cloud & IP at Ericsson, added: “As the solution partner to NTT DOCOMO, Ericsson is proud to be part of a landmark launch which is significant for the whole industry. We believe our mutual experiences from the Open Platform for NFV (OPNFV) network architecture will accelerate global standardization and interoperability.”