Virtual to Universal- The Evolution of the CPE Within Open Telco Cloud Architect

As enterprise customers want faster deployment times and on-demand services that are customizable, using a network-as-a-service solution to drive virtualization initiatives allows service providers to enter new markets and offer new services with best-of-breed VNFs. So how can you reduce service management costs and improve customer experience by automating hybrid (physical and virtual) operations? And how do you use a digital marketplace for end customers and manage requests in real time? On this NMG executive speaking panel we welcome industry leaders who have a solution for centralized, automated license management for VNFs and third-party services, to reduce costs and simplify operations.

Welcome to the NMG Media podcast series where we help bridge the communication gap between carriers and suppliers in the ICT sector. Today, we are joined by a leader in the cybersecurity sector, Jacqui McNamara, Head of Cyber Security Services at Telstra. Jacqui is a also former intelligence officer with the ADF and served for many years in different commands, including the G6 and Special Operations. We also welcome Mayukh Gon, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of PerfectCloud, a unified Cyber security company that focuses on Privacy and Security.

This NMG hosted panel will discuss the opportunities for commercial real estate companies as connectivity can be the bridge to a myriad of smart building solutions that reduce OPEX in the long-run as well as provide added incentives for tenants who want to be green.

The point of demarcation between a telco operator’s network and the end-user has been rife with innovation as operators have invested heavily in network functions virtualization (NFV), all in an effort to provide more agile delivery of virtual network functions (VNFs), such as routers, firewalls, and more.

On this NMG hosted panel will discuss how telcos continue to pursue innovation at the customer edge via the deployment of universal CPEs or edge based NFV infrastructures comprised of white box hardware and open source software. 

Low-latency IoT applications, such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and virtual reality are all building the use case for further extending compute infrastructure towards the network edge.

This NMG hosted panel will discuss the rationale for placing pools of compute infrastructure further out into the network and the applications that will require new cloud computing topologies, such as multi-access edge computing and fog computing.

With the emergence of new technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, autonomous cars, drones and IOT with smart cities, data is increasingly being produced at the user end of the network. These use cases demand real-time processing and communication between distributed endpoints, creating the need for efficient processing at the network edge.

On this NMG hosted panel will explore the change in value chain with Edge Compute and will bring different perspectives on this major industry transformation.

The cloud native approach by Metaswitch for the development of telco networks has resulted in the first virtualized cloud native IMS system, called Clearwater allowing operators to help roll out their next generation cloud native infrastructure. Ian Maclean, CMO of Metaswitch talks about how cloud native designs will help build out the next generation core network that will support technologies like 5G.

As NFV and other technologies will soon support the realization of 5G, Sprint expects all core functions to eventually be cloud native. Along the way, Sprint is carefully managing their migration to mesh fully with the holistic goals of the company and the infrastructure requirements mandated by 5G.

On this NMG hosted panel, we will find out how a major mobile operator is embracing the promise of cloud native technologies and applications while managing the practicalities of existing equipment and services.

Before the trend of using buzz words like cloud native and microservices, Metaswitch practically invented the terms. The pioneers of modular software and cloud native network architectures, Martin Lund, CEO of Metaswitch shares his perspective on the state of play for software networking and what is critical to the success of a service provider.

Deploying Security-as-a-Service to the Enterprise Customer Edge


The network effects of IP-based networking have engrained IP as the common communications protocol for a myriad of end-user applications. This has leveled the attack plane for cyber attackers. As the plane has been leveled, how are CSPs addressing cyber threats? Also, how does the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) elevate the need for CSPs managed security services? Joining us on this panel from Barcelona Spain is Gee Rittenhouse, Senior Vice President of Engineering for Cisco’s Security Business Group, Aamir Hussain, EVP & CTO at CenturyLink and Steven Chesser, President & CEO of the Data Privacy Group.

Panelists:
James Feger, Vice President – Network Strategy & Development, CenturyLink
Phillippe Morin, Chief Executive Officer, EXFO

Being able to utilize bandwidth as needed is critical for the survival of communications network carriers.  Analytics, KPIs and other metrics are being leveraged to ensure low latency and other key performances of network reliability. Being able to utilize bandwidth as needed is critical for the survival of communications network carriers.

On this NMG Media hosted panel we will explore the implementations of dynamic assurance techniques with operators and how integrating assurance into our carrier NFV deployments is an important factor in the critical path towards digital transformation.

Panelists:
Christian Gacon, VP – Wireline Networks & Data Center Infrastructure, Orange
Gopi Manapragada, Sr. Director – Engineering, Dell EMC

Open source projects by their very nature are community driven. With telcos’ utilization of open source solutions to enable their network virtualization strategies, telcos are no longer willing to accept solutions created within isolation, but rather expect input and contribution.

This NMG hosted panel will discuss Orange’s hybrid approach to telco virtualization, which combines the benefits of best-of-breed open source developments and a partner ecosystem comprised of leaders from within open source communities, effectively enabling Orange with the agility of open source solutions, while enabling standardized approaches to the implementation of virtualization across Orange’s network.

Listen to Sophie Legault, Director of T&D Business Unit at EXFO as she talks about the 4G to 5G transition, the implication of highly dense networks, impact on the costs of maintenance on fronthaul networks and the challenges MNOs may face. She will also delve into best practices for addressing interference and PIM in mobile networks and improving the quality of fiber-based fronthaul and CRAN deployments.

What's the status of FirstNet's state opt-in benefits and how does the network help support public safety? Also, what are the benefits of connecting first responders to IoT and Smart Cities? These are the question that Bill Schrier will answer on this LIVE PODCAST by NMG Media.

As more of our business data will exist in the cloud and as the scale of IoT creates more weak links in the security chain, what systems in the network are designed securely that CIOs and CSOs can leverage? And will a lack of industry standards and technology architecture around the IoT makes it difficult to create security policies? Also, why do some contend that the IoT is impossible to secure?

On this edition of NMGs podcast series, we invite Gee Rittenhouse, Senior Vice President, Security Business Group at Cisco and Mike Iwanoff, SVP/CISO/CIO at iconectiv.



Key takeaways for listeners:

a.Fraudsters are out in full force: Yesterday’s solution might not solve tomorrow’s problems/challenges

b.Tips and Info: Top three things I can do to get more info/more data and improve my posture in this area
•Threat Modeling
•Risk Assessment
•Risk Framework

c.Determine whether you have the technology requirements for an acceptable risk posture:
•Multi-cloud security
•Visibility
•segmentation of the network
•automation – allowing you to implement controls to recover from a threat, find the source and mitigate the threat from reoccurring.

d.Communicate that risk posture to exec team and to the board - At the end, the company should know what their risks are and what
they are willing to accept

e.Understand the challenge and know that you don’t have to build your own security solutions.

Listen to GlobalData's Peter Jarich – VP, Consumer Services and Service Provider Infrastructure talk about who is in the lead for 5G test trials and deployments and what regions of the world we can expect the next generation of network communications?

Listen to Kevin Curtis, Distinguished IOT Architect – Connected Cities, Verizon Enterprise Solutions (VES) talk about how digital transformation occurs when information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) data assets are effectively integrated, to realize new business outcomes and to create transformative value, not previously possible.

Listen to Dave Neary, SDN and NFV with Open Source at Red Hat talk about the benefits of engaging with an open source project as a user and what we can expect to see next for NFV and SDN standards.