NEC, Netcracker Unveil Agile Virtualization Platform to Drive SDN/NFV Adoption

NEC Corporation and Netcracker Technology have unveiled their Agile Virtualization Platform and Practice (AVP), a set of unique tools, platforms and services designed to accelerate and ease the adoption and commercialization of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV).

With AVP, NEC and Netcracker will help service providers move their operations, business processes and overall organizations along the path to becoming digital service providers (DSPs) that can quickly take advantage of new revenue opportunities through improved agility and streamlined cost structures.

Virtualization Development and Operations Center

The Virtualization Development and Operations Center (VDOC) is a first-of-its-kind agile collaboration environment designed for systems architecture, network planning as well as service design and deployment teams to automate end-to-end service lifecycle management.

It enables collaboration across departments and with third-party partners, including solution vendors and systems integrators. VDOC simplifies and accelerates service integration, testing and deployment by using Agile methodologies and leveraging an always expanding library of reusable service components.

Business Enablement Applications

Business Enablement Applications (BEA) are designed for executives in charge of customer-facing business units to reduce the time it takes to monetize virtualization offerings for both B2B and mass markets.

BEA enables this by optimizing existing IT capabilities and quickly filling the gaps with existing Business Support Systems (BSS) in a cost-effective manner. BEA are independent, microservices-based application components which can be deployed in public, private or hybrid cloud environments.

Hybrid Operations Management

Hybrid Operations Management (HOM) is built for the operations executive in charge of running service provider networks and is focused on making virtual and traditional networks operate simultaneously at scale. HOM leverages years of proven expertise in end-to-end service management and Management and Network Orchestration (MANO) and fills the gaps missing in today's solutions for automating hybrid network management, including assurance, continuous optimization, security and stability. HOM integrates with VDOC to create a dynamic and continuous feedback loop between product and development environments.

Primary Systems Integration Practice

The Primary Systems Integration Practice (PSIP) helps the executives tasked with moving their business forward to overcome the business, operations and technology challenges associated with leveraging virtualization technologies in multivendor, best-of-breed ecosystems. PSIP covers all stages of virtualization initiatives—from the initial definition of the program and its business case to the full transfer of operations. Leveraging years of experience with Agile deployments and software-driven services, PSIP can help service providers improve cooperation across multiple organizational stakeholders so they can drive change while reducing the risk inherent in embracing more dynamic, software-driven ecosystems.

"AVP is more than just a standalone product or a point solution," said Shunichiro Tejima, Executive Vice President at NEC Corporation. "It allows service providers to access NEC and Netcracker's deep-rooted industry expertise across all stages of virtualization deployment. Service providers are challenged to commercialize their SDN/NFV initiatives and launch them, at scale, into the market. With AVP, we can reduce the time-to-market for SDN/NFV deployments and help remove much of the risk associated with digital transformations."

"In order for service providers to evolve in the digital ecosystem, they will need to overcome the inherent challenges associated with SDN/NFV," said Andrew Feinberg, President and CEO at Netcracker Technology. "AVP directly addresses the operational, organizational and commercial requirements needed to successfully launch digital initiatives, allowing for faster service delivery, greater revenue opportunities, and a better customer experience."