Telstra has boosted its global Software Defined Networking platform by adding a new online marketplace for virtual network functions as well as a quicker way to connect with digital products.
PEN Marketplace is an online portal that allows operators to buy NFV products from a range of different vendors and launch them quickly.
Jim Clarke, Telstra’s Head of International Products and Pricing, said: “With a variety of virtual network functions now accessible through the PEN Marketplace, customers no longer have to wait for the delivery and installation of hardware appliances, rather they have the power to manage their applications virtually and across multiple countries simultaneously.
“Additionally, being able to order virtual applications based on specific business requirements at specific times, means customers can also avoid overprovisioning and consequently, unnecessary costs.”
PEN Exchange allows operators to connect their network to products from other customers of Telstra’s SDN solution, the PEN Platform. The operator said Exchange allows PEN users to develop quicker, easier and more secure partnerships with telcos.
Clarke said: “The launch of our new PEN Exchange is the natural next step in our SDN strategy and means we now have the unique capability to dynamically connect network circuits between PEN Exchange customers, linking different people and business sites easily and cost effectively.
“With provisioning time measured in minutes rather than months, PEN Exchange customers can also use a new application programming interface, which triggers additional capacity depending on their changing bandwidth needs.”
Telstra’s PEN Platform is currently available in 26 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and North America.
Clarke added: “These are two exciting milestones in Telstra’s SDN journey and means we can now, more than ever, deliver the choice and flexibility our customers require, in an age of bandwidth hungry applications, fuelled by distributed computing, big data and mobility.”