Next Generation Central Office, Extending Transformation to the Edge - Intel® Chip Chat episode 572

Dan Rodriguez, Intel VP and GM of the Communications Infrastructure Division, shares his thoughts on hot topics at MWC 2018. Yes, 5G will grab headlines, and its use cases will push and pull the network from different directions to meet low latency and high bandwidth requirements. Network transformation is required for these life-changing use cases, and Next Generation Central Office is a solution that delivers LTE benefits while we wait on widespread 5G rollouts.

In order to prepare for 5G and fixed mobile convergence as well as handle current CAGR in video and data traffic, carriers are transforming their networks through virtualization and automation. There is significant momentum with carriers deploying virtualized devices and infrastructure, such as vCPE/SD-WAN and NFV, and they are benefitting from scalability and flexibility of these technologies.

The Next Generation Central Office (NGCO) is a continuum of the network transformation journey. Intel envisions common infrastructure from central core and regional data center to the central office and edge. With common NFVI layer, they can deploy network functions in order to dynamically manage traffic. With greater intelligence, overall compute capacity and scale, CoSPs can deploy network functions closer to the edge for use cases dependent on low latency.

The success of network transformation and NGCO rely on architectural consistency from top to bottom. That is why Intel has invested in new solutions, such as Intel® Xeon® Scalable, Intel® Xeon® D-2100 and Intel® Atom C3000. Intel Xeon Scalable is ideally suited for regional data centers and NGCO deployments in dense, urban environments with larger, concentrated populations and intense network demands. By comparison, Xeon D-2100 may be better suited for environments constrained by space and power typically found in suburban or rural NGCOs. Ongoing investments in the Intel Architecture will stay ahead of future, network performance requirements.

The case for NGCO is here and now in the LTE environment. Intel is working with its Network Builders ecosystem to develop commercially available solutions. For more information, visit https://networkbuilders.intel.com/