NEC Concludes Third Multi-Vendor Wireless Transport SDN Proof of Concept with the Open Networking Foundation

NEC Concludes Third Multi-Vendor Wireless Transport SDN
Proof of Concept with the Open Networking Foundation

TOKYO, Nov 17, 2016 – (JCN Newswire) – NEC
Corporation (TSE: 6701) today announced the completion of the third
multi-vendor Wireless Transport SDN Proof of Concept (PoC) with the Open
Networking Foundation’s (ONF) Open Transport Working Group. The PoC took place
in October 2016, hosted by AT&T in the “Winlab” at Rutgers
University in New Jersey, USA, for a period of five days. A total of 13
companies, including NEC, took part in the PoC.

The aim of the PoC was to build on the
achievements from the first and second PoC extending the standardization of a
common information model for SDN-enabled wireless transport environments for
both microwave and mmwave radio, simplifying the operations, management and
control of network elements, and facilitating the integration of distinct
multi-vendor solutions under a common and single control framework. A standard
OpenDaylight (ODL) based controller was used for the PoC.

The third PoC demonstrated the capabilities of
the full extent of the microwave information model developed by the ONF for
multi-vendor control of wireless network elements through open management
interfaces. The third PoC consisted of enhanced use cases from the second PoC
and introduced three new use cases. The enhanced use cases were used to
demonstrate richer dynamic network view, configuration, monitoring and
detection of configuration discrepancy as well as event handling. The new use
cases demonstrated additional functionality and capabilities of the SDN
controller to demonstrate new network automation and spectrum management. 

The following enhanced use cases from the second
PoC were demonstrated:

– Detection and configuration of new microwave
devices
– Semi-automated configuring of microwave
devices according to reference data 
– Receiving,displaying and storing of alarm
information

In addition, the following newly added use cases
were performed successfully:

– Test automation – automatic NetConf test of
the model
– Spectrum management
– Closed loop automation (including performance
management)

For this PoC, NEC provided its latest iPASOLINK
EX Advanced ultra-compact All Outdoor Radio mmwave communications systems
capable of 10 Gbps link capacity equipped with a NETCONF interface with
embedded mediator functionality. The PoC successfully demonstrated that
iPASOLINK EX Advanced completed all the test cases for configuration,
management, test automation and closed-loop automation of wireless network
elements in an open environment with an OpenDayLight-based controller.

“By participating in this third PoC, NEC
has proven yet again its commitment to promote development and innovative
mobile backhaul and wireless transport solutions with SDN features to meet the
requirements of the emerging 5G networks and services,” said Hideyuki
Muto, Deputy General Manager, Mobile Wireless Solution Division, NEC
Corporation. “NEC has participated in this third PoC with its latest
iPASOLINK EX Advanced radio capable of 10 Gbps link capacity and large enough
processing power to embed SDN functionalities into the iPASOLINK EX Advanced,
demonstrating its readiness to be developed for SDN and enabling it to operate
without the need for an external or separate mediator unit. Furthermore, the
available computing power in the EX Advanced allows it to perform additional
Mobile Computing functions, such as the one considered in the 5G MEC, making it
the ideal future proof solution for operators’ networks.”