White boxes are the future of the virtual network edge: RAD

RAD network edge

Network virtualization technologies like SDN and NFV have finally moved from hype to reality, and that includes the network edge, as Yacov Cazes, Director of Service Provider Line of Business at RAD, explains in this interview. What’s interesting, Cazes says, is that virtualization is transforming the edge, and vice versa.

For example, we’re seeing the rise of virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) – white boxes and grey boxes to host the software, which means lower costs and the end of vendor lock-in. That in turn is placing increasing importance on ecosystems for edge equipment – no one wants single-vendor solutions anymore, Cazes says.

Meanwhile, SDN and NFV – technically separate pursuits in terms of standardization and development – are now starting to merge at the edge as customers who have already deployed vCPEs for SD-WAN now want to integrate NFV functions into them.

Oh, and if you’re worried that white boxes won’t be able to support physical network functions like GPON or E1 interfaces – RAD has a solution for that. Watch the interview to get the full story.

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