Telefonica is looking deploy network function virtualisation (NFV) "instantly" after teaming up with Red Hat and Intel to build an NFV reference platform and lab,
The Spanish company said it needs NFV to shorten the time to market for new services, reduce costs, reuse infrastructure, and avoid vendor lock-in.
NFV refers to the replacement of dedicated devices with virtual machines for network applications such as load balancing and firewalls.
The Telefonica project, part of a two-year plan for deploying NFV internationally, aims to deliver "a virtual infrastructure management (VIM) platform based on open source software running on standard Intel-based servers".
Enrique Algaba, Telefonica’s network innovation and virtualisation director, said the company needs NFV "as soon as possible".
Telefonica announced last week that it is working with Red Hat and Intel to create "a virtual infrastructure management (VIM) platform based on open source software running on standard Intel-based servers".
The platform, which uses Intel Xeon E5-2600 V2-based servers, is part of Telefo´nica’s NFV Reference Lab, designed to help partners and network equipment providers develop virtual network functions and orchestration services.
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The lab will also features Red Hat Linux, the KVM hypervisor, Red Hat’s OpenStack implementation, and OpenFlow-based switching kit.
