The Driving Force: How Broadband Access Transitioned to a Disaggregated Architecture

The telecommunications industry is now mature, and global IP traffic is exploding at an alarming rate. IoT devices, cloud computing, video streaming, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, gaming, and until recently, the outbreak of COVID 19 have altogether fuelled the rapid traffic demands, particularly the residential subscriber bandwidth demands over home connectivity. Communications Service Providers (CSPs) are pushed to search for methods that can elastically scale up their existing networks and efficiently support this growth.

During the early stages, the industry preferred the proprietary solution that puts all workable pieces together in an optimized way to provide just enough functionality to meet customer demands. However, as technologies advance and new industry standards emerge, the need for standardization across interfaces and re-scaling for new requirements, and the considerable manual configuration effort only make it impossible for the proprietary system to transform or innovate.

Next-Gen BNG: The Virtual Way

Disaggregation has been in place for over two decades; it is not merely a by-product of industry maturity but a natural consequence that saves CSPs from costly upgrades and high maintenance fees, bringing them the possibility of leveraging a multi-vendor ecosystem. By separating hardware from software, it allows each component to be purchased independently with variable selections, which means the hardware is no longer locked in with the proprietary systems.

That is why the traditional chassis-based routing systems are gradually being replaced by the Virtual Broadband Network Gateway (vBNG). Disaggregated in a cloud-native system, the vBNG software virtualizes essential network functions in the network, such as performing subscriber session management tasks, terminating broadband subscriber traffic to corresponding service provider networks, streamlining packet processing for high throughput with ultra-low latency and security enforcement.

Lower CAPEX and OPEX Costs

This software approach, offering distributed BNG architecture with all common BNG access features, can help service providers save 1x to 2x in costs while increasing revenues with its service agility, stitching by third-party software, and most important of all, no more being limited by Customer Premise Equipment (CPE).

Maximize Deployment Flexibility and performance

When it comes to scaling, this edge native approach is fully scalable and equipped with optional value-added services; it does not require custom hardware to scale up or down to fulfil customer’s requirements. By consolidating BNG functions in a single virtualized platform, it cost-effectively leverages hardware acceleration for enhanced performance and high bandwidth at the edge.

Embrace the Future Broadband Access Networks

Disaggregation is becoming the new way how broadband networks are deployed in the near future. It is time for CSPs to leverage their disaggregated components and enjoy the benefits brought by vBNG and next-generation multi-service network whitebox uCPE, all while maintaining high-quality services for subscribers without uprooting the current infrastructure.

In conclusion, vBNG development requires expertise and experience in L2/L3/MPLS control planes, management plane and data plane functions.

Lanner HTCA-6600 whitebox hyper-converged appliance is ideal for virtual and disaggregated virtual broadband network gateway (vBNG).

Featured Product

 


HTCA-6600

High Availability Chassis 6U Telecom Network Appliance with 6 x86 CPU Blades and 6 I/O Blades

CPU Intel® Xeon® Processor Scalable Family
Chipset Intel C621/C627 Chipset

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