2024.02.08 – Network disaggregation principles extended onto access nodes

The Broadband Forum has extended the principles of network disaggregation onto Access Nodes enabling greater choice for operators, OpEx and CapEx savings, and reduced time to market for products.

The release of the TR-477 ‘Cloud CO Enhancement — Access Node Functional Disaggregation’ and MR-477 ‘Access Node Hardware Disaggregation’ technical and markeing reports from the Broadband Forum provide network operators with a migration path from one of their largest network investments — existing Access Nodes such as Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and Multi-Service Access Nodes (MSANs) — to a new disaggregated software-driven model approach.

This approach will enable clear separation of the control and management planes, decoupling the hardware and centralizing the software investment inside a CloudCO architecture. When hardware is decoupled, network operators have greater choice when choosing a supplier for individual components of their solutions.

“SDN-enabled Access Node disaggregation introduces new flexibility in the deployment of the management and control planes by supporting legacy investment and extending the principles of disaggregation, as well as using whitebox hardware and software for future Access Node architecture,” said Bruno Cornaglia of Vodafone who also serves as a Broadband Forum SDN/NFV Work Area Director. “The latest standard will help network operators protect their investments, diversify the supply chain, and accelerate the transition to new physical layer access technologies.”

Access Nodes in a broadband network are the critical elements that are responsible for aggregating thousands of access lines and processing data packets once the connection is established for the customer. Traditionally this is one of the largest network element investments made by a broadband network operator.

The disaggregated Access Node integration to a common, centralized control plane function provides a single point for service provisioning that can be expediently rolled out to all subscribers, improving time to market and market reach. When Access Nodes are disaggregated, operations can be simplified by automation of workflows, configuration, and maintenance tasks through standards-based interfaces and the use of a single, common and software-defined Central Office.

“Network operators can compare different products and leverage a multi-vendor environment for financial or technical benefits,” said Mengmeng Li of China Mobile who also serves as a Broadband Forum SDN/NFV Work Area Director. “Vendors can also be assured of a one-time development cost with standardized disaggregated Access Node architecture, interfaces, and protocols as it allows interoperability between control plane and user plane elements.”

There are a host of business benefits behind the specification work that is promoted by a multi-vendor, multi-technology CloudCO architecture. CloudCO is a reference architecture which allows network operators to modernize central office infrastructure and undertake their journeys to disaggregated network functionality.

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