Volume X, Issue 1 Logistics Solutions for Telecom Professionalswalkerfirst.com/skinny-wire

ICTTECHNOLOGIESTRENDS andTOPICSfor 2016

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In This Issue . . . Feature Articles4 Telco Data Centers: Opportunities in Moving Data and Services Closer to the Edge ByTimothyDowns,InterworkMedia

6 TIA: Top Telecom Trends ByLimor Schafman, TIA

10 Critical Infrastructure Communications Networks ByBobbiHarris,UTC

12 FibertotheSchool ByTimothyDowns,InterworkMedia

23 HappyAnniversary‘96TelecomAct ByWalterMcCormick,USTelecom

24 CompetitionPolicyMarchesForwardin2016 ByChipPickering,INCOMPAS

30 StaffingYourOrganizationforTelcoInnovation ByPraysonPate,ADVAOpticalNetworking

Resource Articles9 IncreaseDensityWhileReducingCost ByPatThompson,CommScope

14 TheProgrammable,DisaggregatedNetwork ByStevePelosi,Fujitsu

16 CustomerBenefitsThroughAutomation ByJuniperNetworks

19 Deploying10GigabitAccessNetworks ByRobertConger,ADTRAN

27 GettingMoreOutoftheHostedTelephonyExplosion ByPatrickT.Sheehan,Mitel

28 YourDarkFiberShouldNotBeDarkToYou ByJimTheodoras,ADVAOpticalNetworking

Walker News34 In the Spotlight37 RecognizingExcellence38 UpcomingEvents

Letters to the editor may be sent to SWEditor@walkerfirst.com

Skinny Wire is a bi-annual publication of Walker and Associates, Inc.“Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer m/f/d/v”

Opinions expressed by contributors and commentators do not necessarily reflect the views of Walker and Associates, Inc.

In preparing for this issue, I dug through a bookcase andlocated the 10th Edition of Newton’s TelecomDictionary,once considered an essential resource for those of us work-inginInsideSalesatWalkerandAssociates.Itwaspublishedin1996,thesameyeartheTelecommunicationsActof1996,becamelaw.Inmanywaysitishardtobelieve20yearshavegonebysincethathistoric,game-changingpieceof legisla-tionwaspassed.Whatismostdifficulttoimagine,however,isjusthowmuchourindustryhaschangedinthose20years.

Forexample,reviewingtheresourcementionedabove,itisinterestingtonotethetermsnotincluded.Keepinmindthatthisbookwas1320pages,butdidn’tincludeasinglerefer-encetovoiceoverIP.ThetermIP,infact,receivednotmuchmore than a footnote, with no reference of it as a potential vehicletocarryvoice.Andthedefinitionfor“gigabyte”onlydescribed howmany bytes that includes. It nearly laughsattheideaofthatmuchdata,stating“That’senoughspacetohold200copiesof thisdictionary.”Howfarwe’vecomeconsidering today’s movement toward gigabit broadbandservices, a subscriber base now forecasted to exceed 100millionusersby2020.

With this anniversary inmind, it is particularly fitting thatwe included an article written by Chip Pickering, CEO ofINCOMPAS. While serving as a staff member with Sen.Trent Lott (R-Miss.) he served as a staff member on theSenate Commerce Committee, where he helped shape the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Because of his role indraftingthe1996Act,hesubsequentlybecamewellknownas a Congressional leader on telecommunications issues.That background gives him a unique perspective on thetopicofcompetitiontoday,whichthe1996Actwas inpartdesignedtodefineandprotect.

Alongwiththetechnologychangescurrentlyunderway,theexpandingscopeofbroadbanddeliveryisanongoingchal-lengefortoday’scarriers.ICTservicesarenolongerlimitedtotraditionalcarriers,butnowincludeopportunitiesinmul-tiplemarkets. This is especially true for utility carriers, asdescribedinBobbiHarris’sarticleonpage10.

For this issue, we wanted to cover a wide range of topics, mainly because we knowmore than one thing keeps ourcarriercustomersupatnight.Increasingcompetition,tech-nologyshifts,regulatorychanges,risingconsumerexpecta-tions, evolving definitions of broadband, funding sourcesandmore-itjustdoesn’tseemtostop.Withthatinmind,wecastawidenettowardourSkinnyWirecontributors,askingthemtowriteaboutwhattheyviewasmostimportanttop-ics,trendsandtechnologyfacingtheICTindustry.Weexpectyou’llfindthisavaluedresourceasyounavigate2016.

Now,IneedtoputtheNewtonTelecomDictionarybackonthe shelf. Some relics are worth holdingonto.

Randy TurnerEditor, Skinny WireDirector, Marketing CommunicationsWalker and Associates336-731-5246randy.turner@walkerfirst.comSWEditor@walkerfirst.com

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The telco industry has undergone amajorevolution.Theswitchfromcopperto fiberhas readiednetworks forspeedand scale, and the physical switch hasbecomeasoftwareswitch,shrinkingthefootprint needed for equipment. Alongtheway,thelineshaveblurredbetweentelcos, network carriers, colo-hostingcenters,cloudservicecarriersandmore.

WearenowintheageoftheInternetofThings (IoT)whereGartner, Inc.predictstherewillbe25billionconnectedthings— mobile devices, smart appliances,sensors, cars, industrialmachines—by2020.TheCiscoVisualNetworkingIndexforecaststhat“annualglobalIPtrafficwillsurpass the zettabyte (1000 exabytes)thresholdin2016,andthetwozettabytethresholdin2019.”

The explosion in devices, IP traffic andtheacceleratingmoveby enterprises tocloud services is generating a transition in the investment and deployment ofinfrastructure. “Cloud centers are beingbuilt to perform massive computingand storemasses of data,” says RussellSenesac, Data Center Business Director atSchneiderElectric inablogpost, “butthey are going to be too far away foreffective data transfer. Data is going tohavetoliveclosertotheenduser.”

The movement of data and computing power closer to the end-user meansgreater emphasis on edge-of-the-net-work computing power. And this maymean new revenue opportunities for telcos who migrate their legacy facili-ties into next generation data centersand micro centers that leverage Central

Office free space, fiber connectivity andexistingbusinessprocesses.

That’s why we’re seeing the emergenceof edge computing platforms, which willdistributecomputing loadsclosertodevices(suchassmartphones,tabletsorsensors), resulting in reduced latency.The architecture of the futurewill likelyhave several variations; it could be agatewayorembeddeddevice,oritcouldbeamicrodatacenter.

Edge computing services also allow telcos to rapidly deploy scalable new services,both for consumer andenterprisebusi-ness segments – helping them differenti-ate their service portfolio. Furthermoreit helps create new revenue streams thanks to its ability to unlock innova-tive services that canbedelivered from

closer to the user, and can improve the bottom line significantly improving enduserQoE.

The Central Office as Data CenterIt’s not difficult to envision the Central Office of yesterday transitioning to aData center or Edge Computing hub oftomorrow. They are both mission criti-cal facilities with mission critical infra-structures, prime for adaptation to a new economy of digital capacity andavailability.Being close to theuserwiththe foundation in place to support the demand formore connectivity, capacityand speed translates into a tremendous businessopportunity.

According to Schneider Electric and other data center solutions specialists, data centers can be used to generate non-

Telco Data Centers: Opportunities in Moving Data and Services Closer to the EdgeByTimothyDownsFounder, CEOInterwork Media

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regulated revenue in addition to sup-porting the telco core strengths of con-nectivityandbusinessservices.Inablogpost, Schneider Electric’s Mark Hurleywrites that telco facilities make perfect data centers because of their locationat the edge of the network; the digital technology and connectivity that CO’stypically have on site and lastly centraloffices are mission critical facilities with mission critical infrastructure already inplace. According to Hurley, building adata center in the unused space in a CO translates into fairlyshort-termROIandcreatesadiverserevenuestream.

Opportunities exist not only in coloca-tion services but also in managed ser-vices from hosted PBX to security andinfrastructure-as-a-service. Colocation isa model that makes the data center avail-

able for rent to customers. These typesof data center facilities provide space, power, cooling, IT racks and physicalsecurityfortheITequipment(buttheITtechnologyisbroughtinandmanagedbythetenant.)

A Rack-Based Deployment is a rack-by-rack deployment option leveraging theexisting infrastructure. Racks can bedeployed on demand in as little as 3-5days.Thisdeploymentmodelhelpspre-serve capital by providing just in timedelivery of data center capacity. A racksupports the ITequipmentand includesthe rack, rack mount UPS and rackPDU. This deployment option assumesyou have excess existing infrastructurecapacitytosupporttheITrackpowerandcoolingrequirements.

Hosted Services is another data centermodel that provides software-as-a-ser-vice,smarthandsandmanagedservices.If you want to move from a colocationdata center to a hosted services model youdonot requireanyadditional infra-structureinvestment.

Hosted services require an additionalinvestment in IT equipment, softwareandITstaff,butthismodelcangenerateup to 20 times the revenue stream of a colocationmodel.

NationalCarriersSendingMixedSignalsLast month, AT&T, Verizon, DeutscheTelekom, British mobile operator EE,South Korea’s SK Telecom, and severalother companies announced they werejoining the Open Compute Project, theFacebook-ledopensourcehardwareanddatacenterdesigncommunity.

Together with data center services giant Equinixandthenetworktechnologyven-dors Nokia and Nexius, they formed awhole new group under OCP focused specifically on data center technologyfor network operators. The OCP TelcoProject will serve as a way for thesecompanies to tap into the innovation ecosystem and supply chain that havesavedFacebookbillionsofdollarsindatacentercosts.

In amajor industry shift, last year largetelecommunications providers such as Verizon,CenturyLink,AT&T,Windstreambegantooffloaddatacenterspacetore-focus on their core competencies rather than trying to compete with the majorthird-partydatacenterserviceproviders.Whileanalystsmaintainthereappearstobenothing fundamentally “broken”withthe data center businesses, the largetelcos seem to believe they can obtainthebenefits(servicesfortheirenterprisecustomers)withoutowningthefacilities.

In smaller secondary and tertiary mar-kets, the story may not be the same.Some data center analysts believe thatdatacenterprovidersarelookingtosub-ordinate markets for expansion oppor-tunities, as they follow online contentproviders like Netflix and Comcast whoare searching for new customers in new markets.Furtheringthispushintosmall-ermarketsarefederalrequirementsfordisaster recovery facilities to be locatedfar from company headquarters. Withthese two factors it is likely that largerdatacenterproviderswillstarttoacquirelocaldatacentersintertiarymarkets.

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An interview with Franklin Flint, Chief Technology Officer of theTelecommunicationsIndustryAssociation(TIA) on the trends carrier and supplierCTOs are watching closely in 2016 andbeyond.

You have convened a CTO Council of TIA member CTOs recently in which they shared their latest market observations and thought leadership. What were three key trends that were discussed?

By far the biggest trend is the massiveincrease in demand on capacity. Thisis flying out of control. At the Councilmeeting, CTOs commented on the 50%year-over-yeargrowthrateinbandwidthrequirements on networks that carriershave already built. Carriers know thatright around the corner their existingnetworksaregoingtobemaxedout,andtheyneed tokeepbuilding to try togetaheadofit.

They are addressing the problem byusing technologies like network func-tionsvirtualization(NFV).NFVoffersbet-ter scalability, which enables carriers tobuildtoneededcapacity,thenscaleandaddtoorreduceexistingcapacityonthefly asdemand fluctuates.Over thenextseveralyears,NFVwillreplacetraditionalfixednetworks.AlotofNFVtechnologiesarenotyetmatured.Carriersarealreadydeploying somevirtualized services, butthe goal is full automation in NFV archi-tecture. There are many pilot projectsand demos, but full automation is nothappeningquicklyenough. HereatTIA,we are facilitating this need for quickdevelopmentbyopeninganNFVLabthisyearasatestbed.Othercompaniesand

carriers have their innovation develop-ment labs aswell. The industry is veryexcitedaboutthepromiseofNFV.

Anothertechnologytrendthateveryoneis talking about is advances in wirelesstechnology. 4G still has room for tech-nologicaldevelopment.It’snotdeadyet.Even though we’re all talking about 5Galready,4Ghasgrowthcapabilitiesbuiltinto it, so carriers don’t have to redesign everythingandcomeupwithnewstan-dardsinordertomeetcurrentdemand.But as I mentioned, demand is ever increasing and 4G does have a growthceiling,sodevelopmentof5Gstandardsis getting underway. There are specificneedsitwilladdress:capacity,bandwidthand latency. A perfect example of theneedfor5Gisremotesurgery.Thesur-

geon will need a high resolution screen without a lot of compression, becauseeven a slight change in the color of a vein could matter. This means high band-width and capacity. The surgeon needsinstantaneousresponsetime.Solatencyhas to be as low as physically possible.Finding the way to do this affordablyin the 5G spectrum iswhat everyone isworking toward. The faster the agree-ment and adoption of standards, the faster products and services can get to market. 3GPP, ITU and other organiza-tions have begun the standards devel-opment process. Once 5G needs aredefined,thenetworkswillbebuilt.

Internet of Things (IoT) is a huge trend,but to carriers it’s just more capacity,more users, more network traffic – more, more,more.Oneof the issues is thata

TIA Speaks on Top Telecom Trends for Q1 2016ByLimorSchafmanDirector of Content DevelopmentTIA

Demands on Capacity and Flexible Networks

Advances in Wireless Technology

Internet of Things, from the Carrier Perspective

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singlestandarddoesnotyetexistforIoTforcontrollingnetworktraffic.Thisisanissue because right now when a com-pany builds an IoT solution, it assumesitwillwork. But asmore IoTplatformsand devices go online and traffic grows, carrierswillwanttocategorizethattrafficand findaway toprioritize itandmoveit around, but they don’t have away tocommonlydothat.Thecommunicationscommunity knows this need exists andstandardsbodiesareworkingtodevelopthatcommonlanguage.

What role is Open Source playing in the telecommunications industry today?Carriers are starting to call for open sourcesolutions,particularlywithregardto NFV. They will still buy proprietarysolutions if they can provide somethingthatopensourcecannot,buttheyexpectopen source to get there, and with strict servicelevelagreement(SLA)adherence.Going forward, it looks as though therewillbeacombinationofopensourceandproprietary technology.And fortunately,

many companies thathavehad successin the IT sector are coming in and teach-ingushowbesttotakeadvantageofthisnew way of developing products andgoingtomarketmorequickly.

What are the latest views on demand for licensed spectrum?Spectrumisachallenge.Thereisafixedamount of spectrum available. It’s likereal estate - once you run out, you runout. But there’s a lot of spectrum thatcouldpotentiallystillbemadeaccessible.The trick is working with the various reg-ulatorybodiesintheU.S.andaroundtheworld to provide the right spectrum to the carriers so they can take advantageof it inthemostappropriateway.Thereare multiple uses for wireless networks including public consumer and enter-prise,government,military,publicsafety,broadcastingandprivateradionetworks.Regulatorsandtheindustryneedtobal-ance current needs with demand com-ing down the pike, while also aligning frequency and spectrum requirementsso that cost-efficient and higher qualityproductscanbeproduced.

Connected vehicles offer a compel-ling example, because the automotiveindustrycontinuestopursuethismarketopportunitywhich requires communica-tion capabilitieswhich on occasionmaybe mission critical with life and deathconsequences. Howdowebestsupportthat mission, while still making spectrum available for other valuable commercialinitiatives? This is a huge discussion, and we are advocating on Capitol Hill andwithseveraldifferentregulatoryagenciesonbehalfofourmembersinthehopeofachievingawin-winsolution. 

What are the trends in unlicensed spectrum technology?There is a big move from some com-panies to take advantage of unlicensed spectrum for cellular phone use with LTE-U. But other technologies alreadyuseunlicensedspectrumincludingWi-Fi,Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc., and all of thehousehold phones and microwaves that usethatspectrum.Thetrickisthatunli-censedspectrumisfreeforeveryonetouse. Ifeveryonechooses itatthesametime and same location, some services mighthave issues. People strongly dis-agree about whether LTE-U will affectother services. And if there is a prob-lem,maybe that’s fine since unlicensedspectrum is open to anyone, or maybetheregulatorybodieswilldecidetostepin, or maybe everyone will find a wayto agree. It’s a big debate in which ourmembers are involved – and we’re fol-lowingitclosely.

The Telecommunications IndustryAssociation(TIA)(TIAonline.org)isanon-profit trade association representing the manufacturers, OEMs and vendors who supplyproductsandservicestotelecom-munications carriers. TIA provides stan-dards, policy advocacy, market intelli-genceandotherservicestoitsmembers.TIA publishes an annual market intelli-gencereport,andtechnologyandmarketanalysiswhitepapers.Itholdsanumberof events including its annual conference TIA2016(TIA2016.org),workshops,webi-nars, seminars, standards meetings and more.ItsvideonewsserviceisTIANOW(TIANOW.org).

Franklin Flint (@FranklinCFlint), CTO, over-sees Standards, Numbering, development of the TIA NFV Lab, and the CTO Council, and speaks on behalf of TIA at conferences around the world. He joined TIA after 20 years at Dell, Inc. where he helped develop the telecommunications vertical strategy. Most recently in that position he managed partner relations for co-developed ICT enterprise product and service solutions. He is considered a strategic thought leader with extensive experience in ICT enterprise, data centers, networking, storage and serv-er technologies.

Limor Schafman (@LimorSchafman) is Director of Content Development at TIA. She brings her extensive knowledge of tech-nology and marketing to TIA in the develop-ment of the annual TIA 2016 conference, workshops, webinars and other TIA infor-mation resources. She occasionally acts as host for the video news service, TIA NOW. Formerly, Limor was marketing strategist and business development consultant to new technology companies. She began her technology career in the video game and theme park industries in Los Angeles, and was an international corporate attorney in Paris, France.

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The increased demand for more band-width for an array of applications, par-ticularly inmobilenetworking, isputtingpressure on central offices (COs), headends and data centers. This demand isdriving higher fiber counts,making ser-vice providers walk a fine line betweengreaterterminationdensityfortheiropti-caldistributionframeswhilemaintainingeasyaccessibilityfortechnicians.

In the past, the outside plant (OSP) toequipmentfiber ratiowas about two toone,ortwoOSPfiberterminationsintheCO toeveryoneequipmentfiber termi-nation.Thefocusforaccessandconnec-tions was primarily on the front of theoptical distribution frame line-up. Therewasverylittleelectronicequipmentwithoptical interface – usually the last pieceofequipmentbeforethesignalexitedtheCO.IncreasedbandwidthandtheuseofC/DWDM, ROADM and other technolo-gieshas ledtomorefiberopticconnec-tionsintheoffice.Theneedformorefi-ber inCOs,headendsanddatacenterstoday isputtingmore focuson theabil-ity of the technician to bring cabling totherearoftheopticaldistributionframe(ODF),aswellasprovideaflexiblesolu-tionthatcanadapt todifferentnetworkstrategies.

Addressinghowtocableintotherearoftheseframeshasbecomeequallyimpor-tantasrunningthecrossconnectjumperonthefront.Butlet’stalkabitaboutwhythisisimportanttoyou.

More fiber requires higher densitiesService providers are deploying ever-in-creasingamountsoffiberintotheirnet-works ingeneral,butoneof the largestincreasesisintheamountoffiberbeingdeployed into the access network, fromtheOSPtowardthesubscriber (fiber-to-the-home,business,curb,etc.)Additionalfiberisbeingusedforwirelessbackhaulas mobile use steadily rises and morebandwidth-hungry applications are in-troduced for wireless devices, such as streamingvideo.

Withmoreandmoreopticalconnectionstocontendwith, thechallengebecomeshow to add optical density to the fiberframe while still maintaining proper ac-

cessibility,flexibilityandmanageabilityatthelowestpossiblecost.

Ultimately,allofthesefiberterminationsare destined for the rear of the ODF, pre-senting significant routing andmanage-ment challenges for technicians since most fiber management systems werenot designed for rear connector access orcablerouting.Typically,thefocushasbeenonthefrontconnectoraccessandcrossconnect patchcord routing. Tech-nicians are discovering that rear cableroutingtakessubstantialinstallationtime(cleaning and routing of connectors and fibers)andissimplymuchmoredifficulttoachievesuccessfullywithoutdamagingconnections or fibers through improperrouting. In other words, it is adding asignificant point of failure for problemsresulting from damaged connection or fibers. Thus,while serviceproviders areunder great pressure to increase densi-ties, theymustalsoconsider thesignifi-canceofhavingthebestpossibleacces-sibilitywhiledecreasinginstallationtimeandrisktothenetwork.

Flexibility, modularity and footprintAnother trend related to more fiber inthe COs and data centers is the push for improvedmodularityandflexibilityusingfewerparts.Again,thepressureisontoreduce installation time and expense inboth new deployments and upgrades.Reducinginstallationtimesrequiresaso-lutionthatisengineeredandconfiguredfor fast deployment, easy connectivityand with as less risk to the network as possible.But it also includeseasyprod-uct selection, simplified ordering andshortenedleadtimes.Simplyput,serviceproviderswant one solution thatwill fitmultipleapplicationscenarios.Thepref-erence is one generic item that can serve multiplefunctionswithinthenetwork.

Manysolutionsonthemarkettodaylimitservice provider choices according to application. For example, productsmayonly be designed for use with certainconnectors, singlemode or multimode, patchcords,IFCs(intra-facilitycables),on-framesplicingoropticalsplitters.Ideally,service providers are seeking one basesolution that is flexible enough to ac-commodate any installation and can be

orderedbyonepartnumber–anoff-the-shelf solution that makes engineering, configurationandturn-upfastandeasy.

Achievinghighdensityinafiberpanelorframe,fromapurephysicsstandpoint,isnot inherentlydifficult.A lotofadaptersand connectors canbe crammed into averytightspace.Thechallengeis,intwowords, accessibility and identification.Can the technicianfind the correctportand connector to access, and can he ac-cessitwithoutdamagingadjacentfibersor without using a special tool?

New developments provide additional improvementsNew optical distribution frame (ODF)solutions have emerged in marketplace that addressmany of the requirementsof service providers worldwide. Theseproductincorporatewell-designed,easy-to-managecharacteristicsthathavebeendevelopedthroughoutmanyyearsoflis-tening to customers, and puts them into a single, modular, flexible product. ThebuildingblockfortheseODF’sincludesauniqueplatformof a 12-fiber LC adapt-erpack.Dueto theirsmallsize,packingmanyLCconnectorssidebysidemakesitdifficult fora techniciantoaccessoneconnector without touching and risking damage to adjacent connectors. TheseLC adapter packs are also staggered ev-erytwoconnectorsfromfronttobacktoprovidevisual separationand identifica-tion.

ByPatThompsonDirectorGlobalBusinessDevelopmentCommScope

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Near theendof 2015, theWhiteHouseannounced a new smart cities initia-tive, Envision America, which will invest over $160 million in federal research andleveragemorethan25newtechnol-ogy collaborations. The goal of EnvisionAmerica is to help communities confront key challenges such as reducing traf-fic congestion, fighting crime, fostering economic growth, managing the effects of a changing climate, and improving the deliveryofcityservices.Onekeytechnol-ogywill be crucial to the successof thesmartcitiesinitiative–real-time,two-waycommunicationsnetworks.

The Information Communications Technology (ICT) marketplace will onceagainbecalledupontodeliverthemostreliable,scalableandefficientcommuni-cations technologies to meet these smart citychallenges.Electric,waterandnatu-ral gas utilities are leading the charge in many areas by upgrading their ownoperations, providing rural broadbandto thehome, coordinating joint-useandrolling-out data-packet IP communica-tions networks. By casting a strongercommunications net, these critical infra-structureprovidersarequicklybecomingthebackboneofallthingssmart.

At UTC, utilities and technology mem-bers collaborate to tackle a wide rangeof challenges, from new regulations and investing in infrastructure to filling open technology jobs and bolstering com-munity advantages while advancing sci-enceandtechnologytoacceleratetheseefforts.Working alongside civic leaders,data scientists and technologists, utilities are joining forces to build these “SmartCommunities.” Communications suppli-ers, whether public carriers or primary-use spectrumproviders, arebeing chal-lenged to add new devices and faster dataspeeds.

There is great opportunity for the ICTmarketplace within the Envision America framework, including new revenue streams, partnership opportunities and advancingnewtechnologies.Utilitiesandcityleadersareinneedofcredibleinfor-mation about technology solutions. ICTproviders should step into the spotlight

in 2016 to investigate participation in EnvisionAmericacollaborationandhigh-light their solutions for smart communi-ties. Facts about the Envision America investments include:

• Morethan$35millioninnewgrantsand over $10 million in proposed investments to build a researchinfrastructure for Smart Cities bythe National Science Foundation and National Institute of Standards and Technology.

• Nearly $70 million in new spend-ing and over $45 million in pro-posed investments to unlock new solutions in safety, energy, climatepreparedness, transportation, health and more, by the Department ofHomeland Security, Departmentof Transportation, Department of

Energy, Department of Commerce,and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

• More than 20 cities participating in major new multi-city collaborationsthatwillhelpcity leaderseffectivelycollaborate with universities andindustry.

• Ten cities will be chosen based ontheir goals, collaboration with localorganizations and commitment todeveloping and planning for a smart city.Thecitieswillthenparticipateina3-dayworkshoptobeginplanning,with private sector partners stay-ing involved throughout theyear tosupport the implementation of their plans.

Like the ARRA funding from 2009, theEnvision America funds will not reach

Critical Infrastructure Communication Networks Provide the Lifeblood of Smart CommunitiesByBobbiHarrisVPMarketStrategyandDevelopmentUTC

11

all communities, so those not chosen will need creative financing options.However, also just as with the ARRAfunding, this initiative should heighten the focus on proven solutions from ICT providers.UTChaslaunchedanewcom-munityofcommunitiescalledNetWorks,

which provides another collaborationchannel for members in addition toits conferences and other educational activities. UTC members can privatelydiscuss Envision America initiatives, as wellasfederalandstateregulatorychal-lenges,technologysuccesses,bestprac-ticesinoperationalefficiencies,etc.

Communities across the country arebuildingsystemsofcontinuousimprove-ment for the collection, aggregation and use of data to improve the life of their residents by harnessing the growingdata revolution, low-cost sensors andresearch collaborations. These systemsrequirethehighestcybersecuritytopro-tectsafetyandprivacyofindividualsandorganizations. The National Institute ofStandardsandTechnology(NIST)cyber-securityframeworkcreatedbyExecutiveOrder (EO) 13636-issued February 12,2013- is tasked with developing a vol-untary cybersecurity framework. TheFrameworkwouldapplyacrossthecriti-cal infrastructure sectors and provide a “prioritized, repeatable, performance-based,andcost-effectiveincludingsecu-ritymeasuresandcontrols,tohelpown-ers and operators of critical infrastruc-tureidentify,assess,andmanagecyberrisk.” This too is a great opportunityfor ICT solution providers – NIST plans to invest $5 million in Smart Cities in2016 and is launching a new round of theGlobalCityTeamsChallenge. (AT&Tannounced that it will support Internet of Things and Smart Cities technologyadoption by supporting testbeds in cit-ies in the U.S. and globally. AT&T willselect 10 U.S. cities to deploy technol-ogy for smartmetering, lighting, trafficmanagement,parking,andpublicsafety.The company will host a Smart Citieshackathon with NIST participation at the

AT&TDeveloperSummitinJanuary2016withparticipatingcities.)

The ICT market should put plans in place toseizetheseopportunitiesandcollabo-ratewithorganizationssuchasUTCandwith federal agencies included in the EnvisionAmericainitiative.

For more information on UTC’s efforts, or opportunities to participate in any of UTC’s programs, please contact us at member-ship@utc.org.

A smart water and smart city industry expert with more than 15 years of experience, Bobbi Harris is the VP of Market Strategy & Development at UTC. In her years as a global strategic marketing professional, she has focused on environmental issues and sustain-ability technologies to address water and energy challenges including smart water infra-structure, smart grid, cleantech and green building initiatives. Ms. Harris is also founder and CEO of Smart Water, Smart City, LLC and a leader in market analysis, strategic intelli-gence and technology assessments. Her insights are sought by key stakeholders, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners, National League of Cities, and electric, water and natural gas utility leaders and technol-ogy executives worldwide. Bobbi serves on the advisory boards of the Research Triangle CleanTech Cluster and Energy Central’s Smart City Community. She is an active member of the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment, and Clean Energy Education and Empowerment. Ms. Harris graduated summa cum laude from Campbell University, earned her MBA from the same.

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A revolution in learning is underway atschools and libraries across the coun-try. The decreasing cost of technology,especially tablets, netbooks and otherdevices combined with next generationWiFisolutionsfeaturing increasedband-widthandspeedarejustpartofthedigi-talrevolution.Cloud-basedsoftwaretooisplayingaroleinthetransformationtoanincreasinglyinteractiveandindividual-ized learningenvironment thatexpandsthe learning environment beyond thefourwallsoftheschool.

And yet, many US schools and librar-ies lack the infrastructure necessary tofullyutilizetoday’slearningtechnologies– particularly when it comes to WiFi inthe classroom and high-speed ‘gigabit’networking speeds to the campus or facility. Local Internet architecture is alynchpin for thekindofefficient servicethat can handle cutting edge activities that could involve high-definition videoencounters or massive amounts of data flowingbetweendevices.

Accordingtoareportfromthenon-profitEducationSuperHighway, an estimated21.3millionstudentsintheUnitedStatesremain without the broadband connec-tivity needed for effective digital learn-ing. “In schools using digital learning,bandwidthdemand is growingat a rateof50%ormoreperyear.”WhiletheFCCestablisheda futuregoalof1Mbpsperstudent for Internetaccess, today, “only9% of school districts have this level ofconnectivity.Asaresult, thevastmajor-ityofschooldistrictsaregoingtoneedtoaggressively grow their Internet access,withthetypicalschooldistrictneedingtotriple its bandwidthover thenext threeyears.”

When Congress passed theTelecommunications Act of 1996 autho-rizingthecreationoftheE-rateprogram(more formally known as the schoolsand libraries universal service supportmechanism), only 14 percent of class-

rooms had access to the Internet, and most schools with access (74 percent)used dial-up connections. Today, virtu-allyallschoolsandlibrarieshaveInternetaccess.

In 2015, the FCC issued twoorders, thefirst of which took initial steps to improve WiFiconnectivityinschoolsandlibraries,andstreamlinedprogramadministration.The Second Order tackled the underly-ing connectivity challenge; the so-called“connectivitygap.”By itsownestimates,theFCCbelievesat least35%ofschoolsand85%of libraries lackaccess to fiberinfrastructure today. Beginning in 2016,schoolsandlibrariescanclosethe“con-nectivity gap” by realizing the potentialof themost promising, highest capacitybroadband technology available: dedi-cated,private,fiberopticnetworks.

In an analysis performed byEducationSuperHighway, fiber was themost cost effective way to deliver high-speed network access.Districts leverag-ing fiber benefited from approximatelynine times more bandwidth and 75%lowercostperMbpscomparedtothosethatdidnotuse fiber. Long-term leasesofprivatefibernetworksareanincreas-ingly attractive – and now extremelyviable – alternative to the broadbandservices offered by telecom and cableproviders.

Inorder tosuccessfullydeploy1:1com-puting environments, leverage digital textbooksandotherdigitalcontent,per-form online assessments, support dis-tance learning, and fulfill the promise ofsomanyotherdigital learningoppor-tunities, schools require more networkcapacity thaneverbefore.Simplycatch-ing up with current demand is no guaran-teeforthefuture,however.Datafroma2013bandwidthtestshowedthat63%ofU.S.schoolsfellshortoffederalconnec-tivity benchmarks, and 99% of schoolswill not bemeeting 2018 standards fornetwork connectivity. A report in 2014

fromEducationSuperHighwaystatesthatschool bandwidth needs are increasing30-50%peryear. The E-Rate modernization plan pro-vides new opportunities for schools (and libraries) to be served by regional andnational fiber networks, network servic-es companies, and technology solutionsproviders includingWiFimanufacturers,cloud-servicesfirmsandmore.

Two important components of the FCC Order are: It amends the E-rate pro-gram's eligible services list to equalizethetreatmentoflitanddarkfiber.Darkfiber leases permit a customer to pur-chasecapacityonaprovider-ownedandmaintained fiber network without pay-ingfortransmissionservice.Secondly, itpermits schools and libraryapplicant toseekE-ratesupportforself-constructionoftheirownhigh-speedbroadbandnet-works, or portions of such networks,

Fiber-to-the-School: New Opportunities for Carriers and Suppliers?Recent Rules Changes in FCC’s E-Rate Program open the door for new fiber connections for schools and libraries using agency funds.

ByTimothyDownsFounder, CEOInterwork Media

13

whenself-construction is themostcost-effectivesolution.

Under the old rules, when a school orlibraryoptedtoleaselitfiber,themodu-lating electronics (which are necessaryto “light” that fiber) were considereda category one service, making themmore likely toreceiveE-rate funding.Bycontrast, schools that leased dark fiber—meaningthattheypurchasedcapacityon a provider’s network without payingthe provider for transmission services — could not get category one supportfor the modulating electronics, a distinc-tion that created a strong disincentive forschoolsand libraries tochoosedarkfiber, even if it was a more financiallyprudentoption.Today,theFCCrecogniz-esthat“levelingtheplayingfieldbetweenlitanddarkfiberwillexpandoptionsforapplicantsandwilllikelyreducecosts.”

Another key rule change is the suspen-

sion of the requirement that applicantsseek funding for large up front con-struction costs over several years. Aswithmanygovernmentfundingactivities,schools or librariesmust come up withsome portion of the funds — known as a match—toaccessE-Ratefunds.Beforethe December rule changes the matchhadtobepaidinthefirstyear.Now,up-frontcostscanbespreadoverfouryears.Therulechangescanincentivizeschoolsandlibrariestoobtainfundingforfiber-optic services besides those lit servicesthat are offered through a traditional incumbent.

In SummaryFromKansasCitytoCharlotteandnearlya hundred cities in between, the con-tinualincreaseindemandforbandwidthis driving the need for next generationinfrastructure-based telecom servicesaroundthecountry.Policymakers,com-munityleadersandtechnologyadvocates

areshiftingfocustothenextgenerationof connectivity – “gigabit broadband” –as the transformative general purpose technology that will lead a significantcontribution to economic growth andcompetitiveness.

CommunityAnchor Institutions– includ-ingschools,healthfacilitiesandlibraries--representauniqueandimportantplaceinournation.Digitallearningopportuni-ties have the power to transform K-12education in theU.S. and equip today’sstudentstocompeteintheglobalecono-my. What’smore, libraries,healthfacili-ties and educational institutions are vital tothecommunityasaphysicalgatheringplace as well as an access point to the Internet and theopportunities availableon,andfrom,theWorldWideWeb.

ThenewE-Raterules,whichareineffectin 2016, allow schools and libraries totakeadvantageof greater flexibility andincreased funding to make smart, sus-tainableinvestmentsintheirbroadbandfutures.

To learn more contact EducationSuperHighway at www.educa-tionsuperhighway.org, and Schools Health and Library Coalition at www.shlby.org

“Data from a 2013 bandwidth test showed that 63% of U.S. schools fell short of federal connectivity benchmarks, and 99% of schools will not be meeting 2018 standards for network connectivity.”

14

Over the past decade or so, the pre-vailing trend in the network equipmentindustry has been consolidated, multi-function equipment. Themove toWDMinthecore,combinedwithadiversesetof technologies needed for transport, requiredahighdegreeofintegration.

This approach, however, has disadvan-tagesfornetworkoperators.First,theseintegrated platforms may force opera-tors topurchase functionality they can’tuse. Second, technology combined intoamultifunctionplatformmayneedtobe“sub-optimized” to fit within the opera-tional and physical constraints of thatplatform. Third,multifunction platformsare not an ideal fit for every networksize. Since multipurpose networkingplatforms are also costly and energy-inefficient by today’s standards, as wellasoccupyingalotofrackspace,networkoperatorshavecollectivelyturnedtothevendorcommunityfornewapproaches.

Multiple Forces Propel Change, Open Up New PossibilitiesWhile multiple factors drive change incommunications networks, massive bandwidthdemandisalmostaconstant.The forces that propel this continuallyincreasing demand are familiar through-out the industry: Over the Top (OTT)services; widespread adoption of smart mobiledevices;theascentoftheInternetof Things, and general escalation in cus-tomer expectations as more and more

aspects of daily life require us to beonline.Thequestionisnolongerwheth-erornotincreasedbandwidthisneeded,buthowmuchwillsatisfythedemand.

A trend towards an open and program-mablearchitecturehasarisenthatessen-tially applies design concepts from theITworldtobenefitcommunicationsnet-works.Asthelinesbegintoblurbetweenthe worlds of IT and Communications networks,newtypesofnetworksbecomepossible along with a range of benefitsandopportunities.

Fundamental Design Changes Needed in Network EquipmentNetwork equipment must change toenable programmable, open, scalable,simple networks. Programmable net-works are built for software control.Software-based solutions are moreflexible and faster to deploy (and laterenhance)thananyhardware-basedsolu-tion, because there is no need to bephysicallypresentatthesite.

Open networks also eliminate vendor lock-in, offering an environment thatinvites innovation, and enables multi-sourcing for maximum cost, competi-tion, and supply advantages. Similarly,networks that are easy to scale reducecost and testing times and allow for pay-as-you-grow capacity, resulting in ashift in capital spending from network equipment to revenue-generating ser-

vices. Finally, simple, open-architecturenetworks reduce operational complexi-ties, speed service creation and activa-tion,andproduceamoreagilebusinessthroughsoftware.

To achieve these programmable,open, scalable, simple networks, theneeded change is “disaggregation.”Disaggregation means separating net-workingequipment intofunctionalcom-ponents and allowing each component tobeindependentlyoptimizedandindi-viduallydeployed,alesscostlyandmuchmore flexible approach than traditionalmultifunction platforms. Ideally, disag-gregated equipment is provided in thesmallest form-factor capable of deliver-ing a specific function (for the purposes of this article, this means a single rack unit(1RU)inheight,whichis1.75inches).This type of equipment should be self-contained, require no additional com-mon equipment to operate, and incor-porateopenAPIstoenableSDNcontrol.Lastly, it is essential thatnew,disaggre-gated platforms be interoperable withlegacy equipment, which allows opera-torstoextendthefunctionallifeoftheseinvestmentsaslongasnecessary.

Disaggregated Hardware Benefits Networks of Any SizeItisagainstthisbackdropthatthedisag-gregated hardware platform has entered the arena. These networking platformsare the result of breaking up networkequipment into“build ityourway” func-tionalcomponents.Thecompactphysicalsize, comparative simplicity and compo-nent-based design of these platformsresult in massive physical downsizing,flexibility,openarchitecture,andideally,programmability.

Disaggregation was first implemented in ITnetworksand isnowbeingpickedupby communications network operatorsbecauseofitscompellingbenefits.Thesebenefitscanberealizednotonlyonlargecommunications networks, but acrossthe whole spectrum of network typesandsizes:

1.Efficient,andpay-as-you-growscaling – Network transformation

Moving Toward the Programmable, Disaggregated NetworkByStevePelosiVPandHeadof theOpticalBusinessUnitFujitsuNetworkCommunications,Inc.

15

can start with as little as a single pieceofequipment,providinglowinitialcostandas-neededgrowthinincrementsof1RU.Youbuyonlythefunctionsneededandpayforadditionalcapacityonlywhen demand grows enough to justifyit.Thisisinstarkcontrastto large multipurpose implemen-tationsthatcarryheavyup-frontcosts, impose additional cost for unusedfunctions,andrequireadditionalcommonequipmenttooperate.

2.RackSpaceUtilization–Asmall,denseform-factorallowsforfullutilizationofrackspaceinincre-mentsof1RU.Thiseliminatesrack unit waste for shelves that arenotfullyutilizedandwhichconsequentlypreventtheinstalla-tionofotherequipmentintothatrackspace.

3.Innovation–Whendesigningmultifunctionequipment,youareconstrainedbytheform-factor,thesystemsoftware,andthedependencies among the other functions incorporated into the multifunctionshelfenvironment.Disaggregationbreaksaparttheshelf and makes each functional componentindependent.Thus,thephysicalformfactorisneitherdictatednorlimitedbyashelf.Independent functions and soft-ware provide freedom of innova-tionnotpossibleinmultifunction-alequipment—andresultinlesstestingbecausetherearefewerdependenciestotest.

4.OpenArchitecture–Withthearrival of open architecture and

openAPIs,youcannowchoosetobuildyournetworkwiththebest-of-breedequipmentineachfunctionalarea.Thenetworkcanbevirtuallyconvergedusingsoft-ware, providing operational con-sistencyacrossdiversefunctionsandvendors.Anopenarchitec-ture also favors continual opera-tional and software advancement and improvement, reduces costs and cuts time to market for new servicedeployments.

Disaggregated Hardware: Why Now?You may be wondering: if disaggrega-tion is so great, why did multifunction-al equipment become predominant inthe first place? The answer effectivelycomes down to the timing of techno-logicaladvancements.Thehardwareandsoftware technology is only now reach-ing the maturity to make disaggrega-tionpossible.Next-generationhardwaretechnologylikeCD/CDCROADMenablesprogrammability of the communicationnetworkhardwareandinceptionofSDN/NFV and other software advancements; thehardwaretechnologybasisneededtopull the disaggregated network together isjustnowbeingrealized.

Disaggregation’s Sweet Spot Combines Immediate Benefit and a Path Forward The future of networking equipment isdisaggregation. Programmable, open,scalable,andsimplenetworksareneed-ed to meet growing demand and com-petition. Operators who create customdisaggregated networks can turn their networkfromanexpenseintoacompeti-tive advantage. But this cannot happenovernight. Existing network assets need

to be utilized and the whole networktransformed over time. It is thereforevital that the disaggregated equipmentyou choose can interoperate with yourexistingnetwork,addingnewfunctional-ity and lifespan to your existing assets,delivering immediate and incremental benefits,andpreparingthewayforwardinaffordablesteps.

As disaggregation matures, an ecosys-tem of vendors will evolve, new soft-wareapplicationswillbedeveloped,andinnovation in functional hardware will improvecost,density,andpower.Buttorealizetheimmediatebenefitsavailable,the time to get started with disaggrega-tionistoday.

Steve Pelosi, as head of the Optical Business Unit, drives the technical prod-uct strategy and direction for the Fujitsu optical net-working portfolio. During his career at Fujitsu, Steve has held leadership

positions in network operations, software, optical transmission, and wireless.

Steve began his career at Bell Labs and Bellcore, working in transmission from 1982 to 1987. He then spent five years at Bell Northern Research, working in switch-ing.

Steve received his B.Sc. in biology and psy-chology from SUNY Buffalo, and his M.Sc. in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

16

IntroductionSoftware-DefinedNetworking (SDN)andNetwork Functions Virtualization (NFV)are transformational technologies that enableserviceproviderstocreatehighlyprogrammablenetworkswithautomatedworkflows. Automation solves the spe-cific challenges that service providers are facing today with respect to managingcomplexity, reducing operational costs,and improving the overall customer ser-vicelifecycle.

Functions to Automate in a Service Delivery NetworkJuniper Networks believes that certainkey functions in a service delivery net-workwillbenefitimmediatelyfromauto-mation.WithSDNandNFV,servicepro-viders can create an automated frame-work that supports every step of theservice life cycle. To date, many of thestepsinvolvedintheservicelifecyclearecomplexandlabor-intensive.

Automationenablesserviceproviderstoefficientlyplan,build,andoperate inno-vative services while adding responsive-nessthroughouttheentirelifecycle.Theresulting gain in efficiency and respon-sivenessultimately improves theoverallcustomerexperience.

The following section highlights how automation improves each element of theservicelifecycle.

• Order and Fulfillment: A self-careportal provisions services based onexisting repeatable templates todeliverservicesinminutes.

• Control:Customershavesubstantialvisibility into and control over theirservices,giving themtheabilityandflexibility required to activate,mod-ify, remove, and relocate services.Requested changes are automati-callyconfiguredinthenetwork,withfewererrors.

• Security:Automatedsecuritydetects

malicious traffic and enforces poli-cies designed to safeguard network access.

• Policies: Policy-based service man-agement adjusts network resourc-es, including bandwidth and traf-fic priority, allowing the network todynamically provide differentiatedservicesandrole-basedaccess.

• Assurance: Proactive error detection and fault reporting provide insights that enable network operations toreroute traffic and limit service dis-ruptions.

• Performance: Automation provides active traffic management while maintaining service performance objectives.

• Analytics: Analytics capabilitiesenable service data to be collectedand analyzed from across the net-work domain for network optimiza-tionpurposes.

• UsageandReporting:Reportingfea-

tures record and measure usage pat-terns,trafficvolume,andanyspecificusage of network resources for net-workplanningpurposes.

Benefits of Automation for the Enterprise Customer

Speed and AgilityAutomation expedites the service fulfill-mentprocess.Theorderprocessisintui-tive;customers,usingasimpleself-guid-ed user interface, can select and manage a variety of virtual network functions(VNFs)fromaservicecatalog.

FlexibilityAutomation enables highly flexible andscalableservicedeployments.Customerscan quickly roll out new serviceswith asmall and affordable initial deploymentthat canbeswiftlyexpandedandprovi-sioned for high availability and perfor-mance.

Customer Benefits Through Automation with SDN and NFV

Helping service providers solve specific challenges they are facing today while improving life cycle

Automated Order and Ful�llment

Automated Usage Reports

Automated Analytics

Automated Performance Monitoring

Automated Assurance

Automated Policies Enforcement

Automated Security

Automated Con�guration and Control

Order

Usage

Analytics

Performance

Assurance

Policies

Security

Con�guration

Functions to Automate

Figure 1: Functions to automate in a service delivery network.

BytheJuniperNetworksNFVTeam

17

ControlCustomers have the ability to activate,modify, remove, and relocate serviceresources. Policy-based controls auto-maticallymanagebandwidthandservicelevels, allowing customers to customizedifferentiated services and access privi-legesbasedondepartments,geographi-callocations,androle-basedaccess.

SimplicityAutomation simplifies evolution over the life of a service. Under today’s sys-tems, any service update is a compli-cated process that requires technicalsupportvisits fromtheserviceprovider.Automation eliminates manual process-es and Performance Automation pro-vides a complete real-time operationalpicture.Assuranceproactivelymeasuresusage patterns, traffic volumes, error detection, and fault reporting to estab-lishaserviceprovisioningfeedbackloopthat optimizes and sustains service KeyPerformance Indicators (KPIs) irrespec-tiveofdeploymentsize.

SecurityAutomated security provides encryp-tion, key management, authentication,and role-based access to the service.Automation proactively uses real-timefeeds on emerging threats so that securi-tyenforcementpointswithinthenetwork

can automatically filter malicious trafficwithoutrequiringanyhumaninteraction.

VisibilityAutomationgivescustomersvisibilityintotheirservices.Networkusageandqualityacrossservicesareconstantlymonitored,analyzed,andbenchmarked.Customerscan design service policies that automati-callymanagenetworkresources.

The Juniper Networks NFV SolutionJuniper Networks market-leading NFVsolution consists of a Management and Orchestration(MANO)platform,NetworkFunctions Virtualization Infrastructure(NFVI),andVNFs.

At the heart of Juniper’s end-to-endNFV solution is the Juniper Networks®Contrail Cloud Platform, an intelligent, policy- driven, automated service deliv-ery, resource allocation, infrastructureconfiguration, assurance, and securitysolution.

Juniper’s automation framework andContrailCloudPlatformcombinetodeliv-erbusinessagility,predictableKPIs,andlowerTCO.

NFVI serves as the network foundation to deliver services and an open platform forthird-partyapplicationsandmultiven-

dor integration. Juniper’s NFVI includes:JuniperNetworksMXSeries3DUniversalEdge Routers, which provide the rout-ing foundation for NFVI; SDN gateways,whichperformtrafficanalysisandpolicyenforcement;andtheMetaFabric™archi-tecture,whichcreateshigh-performancedatacenterandcloudnetworks.

Juniper is one of the first vendors tointroduce VNFs, which include the car-rier-grade vMX virtual routing platform,IP VPN, and the expansive virtual secu-rityservicesplatform,vSRX.Juniper’sNFVsolution also facilitates anopenecosys-temfor Juniperpartnersandthird-partydevelopers to create new and innova-tive VNF services. Additional informa-tionaboutJuniper’sNFVsolutioncanbefoundhere.

Conclusion TheJuniperNetworksvisionfornetworkautomation revolves around its automa-tion framework, which leverages SDN andNFVtoautomatemanystepsoftheservice life cycle. Juniper’s innovationin NFV delivers automation that effec-tively streamlines services provisioning,minimizes complexity, reduces time tomarket,anddrivesbusinessresultswhilemeetingcustomerexpectations.

This year will mark the beginning of amulti-year roll out of NFV, as the earlyadoptersmovebeyondproofofconceptandintofullwide-scaledeployment.

• In 2015, there has been much dis-cussion around the transition to NFV,andhowoperatorscandeployit in existing networks. We’ve seenproduct launches, proof of concepts (POCs)andindustrypartnershipsasthemarketmatures.

• In 2016 we’ll see some operators at the bleeding edge that have com-pleted several POCs move into the detailed planning stage and start issuing RFPs for multi-year deploy-ments.

• Other operators are postponing the move to NFV as they have a lotof existing capacity for growth intheir networks, so will continue to buildoutphysicalappliances.TheseoperatorswillbewatchingtheearlymoverstoNFVwithinterest,butwillbe looking three or so years ahead

beforetheymakethemove.• Inbetween,thereareoperatorswith

older technologies for which NFV is the natural upgrade, and which will start looking at trials next year.Likewise, the more greenfield opera-tors that are leapfrogging previous technologies will move straight to NFV.

• In 2016, challenges will remain butthe industry will move to addressthem – for example, openness inthe variety of interfaces needed tomake technologies compatible; andbalancingtheROIthatcanbegainedthrough operational cost savings and speed to market of services ver-sus the upfront investment of time, resourceandcosttodeployNFV.

• We’re seeing the blurring of devel-opment operations teams and the need for them to work hand in hand to build out apps quickly and an inagileway,sothatoperatorscaniter-atequicklyforapplications,inamat-ter of weeks – this is known as devo-

ps. Amajorchallengethatwe’llseecontinuetoplayoutin2016istelcoscompetingwiththeOTTplayersthatusethedevopscycle,andbeingableto innovate fast enough. Operatororganisations, typically siloed, donotlendthemselvesnaturallytothedevopsmethodology.

• Furthermore, in 2016 operators will continue to build out the skill setsneeded for NFV, hiring from web-scale companies and cloud provid-ers.

• NFV is not a solution in and of itself –operatorsneedtoadjustthemind-set, skillset and structure of organ-isationtobeabletotakeadvantageof theagilityandflexibility thatNFVwillbring.

• In 2016 operators will look to ven-dors that have experience in andcapabilitiesfordevopsenvironmentsto support them to leverage the power of cloud, and to rapidly andcontinuouslyintegratecodetodeliv-ernewservices.

In a series of predictions for 2016 Mikko Disini, director Product Marketing at Citrix, examines the pace of change in network functions virtualization (NFV)

18

19

Understanding NG-PON2 ArchitectureThe primary value of Next GenerationPON (NG-PON2) is theability to serve amix of residential, business and back-haul services over a common optical DistributionNetwork (ODN)usingamixofpoint-to-pointandpoint-to-multipointtechnologies. The biggest challenge fac-ingNG-PON2iscomingupwithasinglesystem that meets the scale and flex-ibility needs of premium business andbackhaul services while also deliveringon the price points needed for mass marketresidentialapplications.XGS-PONis a fast developing standard supported by leading service providers and ven-

dorsaroundtheworld for10Gbps (XG)Symmetric fixed wavelength PON overthealreadyestablishedGPON/NG-PON2infrastructure.

Flexible Optics Balance Cost and ScaleRealizingthatthemajorcostcomponentofanyNG-PON2systemisthecostoftheopticaltransceivers(bothattheOLTandONT), ADTRAN has developed a flexibleopticsapproachtoNG-PON2thatallowsforasingleNG-PON2OLTsystemtouti-lizemultipletypesofopticaltransceivers,allowing the service provider to betteralign the cost with the target applica-tion. The flexible optics range from lowcostfixedopticsforresidential,businessandsmallcellbroadbandapplicationstofully-tunable optics for premium enter-prise, datacenter, fronthaul and back-haul services. Through further innova-tion in the ONT optics design, ADTRANhasdevelopedafixedoptics10/10GONTsolution compliant to NG-PON2, XGS-PON, and GPON standards that allowsfor the immediate support ofNG-PON2ONTsforbusinessandbackhaulservicesaswellasbeingabletoseedtheresiden-tialmarketwith less complexNG-PON2

ONTs nearing the price level of today’smainstreamGPONONTs.

This flexible optics approach allows formassmarket10/10GNG-PON2/XGS-PONadoption for all broadband applications(FigureA)whilemaintainingflexibilityforthe futureoverlayofanadditional fixedoptics10/10GbusinessPONand/ormul-tipleTDWMPONsusinghighercapabilitytunableoptics(FigureB).

TheADTRANNG-PON2systemeleganceoffers the ability to benefit from massmarket price points without having to wait for large volumes to be reached

in the 10G PONmarket. This approachgives service providers confidence that they can move forward with a 10GPON strategy today, without the risk ofdepending on a future worldwide volume rampof10Gandtunableopticstomakeitcost-effective.OntheOLTside,anymixof optics can be used on a single OLT,allowing for maximum flexibility with-out compromising on future capabili-ties. Leveraging the additional capacity

availablethroughthedisruptiveADTRANNG-PON2solutionset, serviceproviderscanextractanadditionalfivetotenyearsof revenue from this year’s residentialPON deployments, maximizing futureservice flexibility andminimizing risk ofsubscriberchurn.

Solution Programmability and a Commitment to Open Interfaces Simplifies Converged OperationsAdditionally, the operational cost andcomplexitytoconnectaFTTHsubscribercan be further reduced to acceleratetheexpansionofGigabitbroadbandser-vices. ADTRAN’s solution supports pro-visioning through modern, open APIs, facilitatingthedeploymentinnext-gener-ation SDN-basedmanagement systems.BoththeADTRANOLTandONTssupportopen, standard-based, physical interfac-es allowing for the support of best-in-breed network design and the deliveryof universal CPE across a multi-vendornetwork.Thisinconcertwithacceleratedmass market electronics and optics pric-ingensuresthatcost-sensitiveresidentialbroadbandwillbeviableusingNG-PON2/XGS-PONtechnology.

[See attached diagram]FigureA:DeploymassmarketGigabitormulti-Gigabit convergedbroadband ser-vicesusing lowcost fixed10/10Goptics(XGS-PON)

[See attached diagram]FigureB:Overlaypremiumopticalservic-eswiththedeploymentofhighercapabil-ityNx10/10Gtunableoptics

Deploying 10 Gigabit Access Networks:Using the Emerging NG-PON2 and XGS-PON StandardsByRobertCongerAVP,CarrierStrategyADTRAN

20

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CommScope has acquired TE Connectivity’stelecom, enterprise and wireless business.www.commscope.com/expectmore

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commscope.com/FDH

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Industry-leading density, superior access and faster installationThe NG4access® ODF platform is an innovative solution designed to address the complexities of fiber-heavy offices, head ends and data center environments. From minimizing your labor requirements to faster deployment and delivery, the NG4access ODF was designed with innovation and accessibility in mind.

commscope.com/NG4access

Fiber Distribution Hub (FDH) 4000

Contact Walker and Associates for CommScope Solutions at 1-800-WALKER1 or walkerfirst.com

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CommScope has acquired TE Connectivity’stelecom, enterprise and wireless business.www.commscope.com/expectmore

Driving Fiber Innovationsin the Office to the Outside Plant

No Space. No Permit. No Problem.Increasingly, aesthetic ordinances and equipment size restrictions are making it more difficult to secure permits in FTTx deployments. To solve this challenge, CommScope developed the FDH 4000. The sealed FDH 4000 is designed for superior performance in any environment. Its small, compact size minimizes visual impact for discrete applications. Leveraging industry-proven hardened fiber optic closure technology, the sealed FDH offers a robust, technician-friendly and cost-effective solution for connecting feeder and distribution cables in the FTTx network.

commscope.com/FDH

FDH 4000

NG4access® ODF Platform

Industry-leading density, superior access and faster installationThe NG4access® ODF platform is an innovative solution designed to address the complexities of fiber-heavy offices, head ends and data center environments. From minimizing your labor requirements to faster deployment and delivery, the NG4access ODF was designed with innovation and accessibility in mind.

commscope.com/NG4access

Fiber Distribution Hub (FDH) 4000

Contact Walker and Associates for CommScope Solutions at 1-800-WALKER1 or walkerfirst.com

22

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This year, Americans should takea break from our daily digital immer-sion to celebrate the enactment ofTelecommunicationsActof1996.Withitstwin pillars of competition and deregu-lation, this groundbreaking law set thestageforthethrivingbroadbandInterneteconomy we take for granted today.The Act accelerated massive investment and innovation in communications and information technologypropellingwide-spread adoption of powerful and con-nected technologies leading to unfore-seeneconomicprosperityandconsumerchoice.We’vecomealongwayinaveryshorttime.

Twentyyearsago,nearlyeveryhome inAmerica had landline voice service from a local telephone monopoly and paidthird-party long distance providers bytheminute.Mostviewedtelevisionfromthe local cable monopoly or over theair. Wireless communications, satellitetelevision, and the Internet were in the very early stages of their development.Fax machines, Palm Pilots, and clunkydesktopcomputerswithdial-upInternetwerecuttingedge.Practicallynoonehadbroadband Internet, certainlynotof thespeedandqualityavailabletoday.

The Telecom Act transformed the com-munications industry from a group ofisolated monopolies to a highly com-petitive, diverse, and innovative market-place. It broke up local voice and cablemonopolies and allowed competition across traditional industry boundaries,whichsetinmotiontheracetobuildthebroadband Internet. New wireless andInternet markets became competitivefrom the outset. As a result of policiesencouragingbroadbandnetworkcompe-tition in a minimally regulated environ-ment,theinvestmentspigotopenedup.Since 1996, broadband providers haveinvested$1.5trillionbuildingcompetitivelandline and wireless networks across the nation and continue to invest more than$70billionannually.

The benefits of broadband competi-tion and investment unleashed by theTelecom Act have been astounding. In20years, Internettraffichasgrownbyafactor of more than 135,000; we investmorepercapitathanotherindustrializednations; and we generate more traffic than all counties except South Korea.

With access to broadband, mobile, andWiFi networks, U.S. consumers, busi-nesses, and governments are well along the transition to modern, more efficient Internet and mobile networks. Todayourindustrycontinuestoinvestinbetterand faster networks while we build thecloud computing and content distribu-tion infrastructure so essential to the evolvingbroadbandandmobileInternet.And we are laying the foundation foremerging applications, such as data ana-lytics, the industrial Internet, and theInternetofthings.

Consumersarethegreatestbeneficiariesof these evolutionary changes. Almostall Americans can get either wired or wireless Internet access. Approximately90 percent of Americans have a choiceamong two or more landline provid-ers and four or more wireless broad-band providers. Public and home WiFinetworks are widely available. Nearly300 million Americans in 90 percent ofAmerican households have a wireless phone, with a majority using a broad-band-enabled smartphone. Only half ofhouseholdshavealandlinephoneatall.Long-distancechargesareathingofthepast as consumers purchase all distance voice service, usually in a bundle withbroadbandInternetaccess.Subscriptionvideoservicesareavailablefromtelecombroadband providers, satellite compa-nies, and cable.Meanwhile tens ofmil-lions of American households are getting video through new online Internet video services.

Considerthedifferencetwentyyearshasmade in consumer services, convenience, and choice in industries such as music, photography, books, print and broad-cast media, voice communication, video entertainment, advertising, retail, real estate, travel, hospitality, and consumerfinance.Other industries are also beingtransformed, such as energy, manufac-turing,andevenagriculture.Meanwhile,we have thriving industries that either did not exist or barely existed 20 yearsago, such as search, social media, loca-tion services, online markets, and the sharingeconomy;andthereisatransfor-mation taking place in health, education, andpublicservices.

While the TelecomActwas aheadof itstimeinthe1990s,20yearslateritistimefor a refresh. Having achieved its coremarket-opening goals and achieved afast-paced, dynamic broadband econo-my,muchof theAct isnowobsolete. Ina world where competition is occurring across traditional industry boundaries,where computing and communications have converged, the Telecom Act’s cat-egories make no sense. At the sametime, new challenges are arising around privacy, intellectual property, cyberse-curity, and completing the deploymentof broadband to all parts of theUnitedStates. Congress, as the elected repre-sentatives of the American people, must ensure that telecom policy addressestoday’schallenges,notlastcentury’s,andensures that we retain our international leadership.

ByWalterMcCormickPresident, CEOUSTelecomAssociation

24

Last year, we witnessed some of thebiggest victories for competitive policyin over a decade at the FCC: the Tech Transitions Order to preserve and pro-mote competition; the acceleration of FCC review of the business broadbandmarketplace and lock up provisions; the rejection of the Comcast-Time WarnerCable merger; and the adoption of anOrder to ensure all consumers have accesstoanopenInternet.

INCOMPAS, representing communica-tions and technology companies largeand small, advocates for laws and poli-cies that promote competition, innova-tion, and economic development across all platforms—wired, wireless, Internet, streaming,edgeprovidersandstart-ups.We are an association of new networkbuilders.

Last year’s tech transitions win was acatalyst for newnetworks and competi-tion.Thecollectiveefforttobuildabettertechnologyfuturehelpsconsumers,busi-ness customers, and non-profits alike.Newnetworks’technologyenhancestheability to simplify networks; transportcritical business data securely and reli-ablyamongmultipleoffice,branch,store,orcampuslocations;supporthigh-band-width applications at a lower cost; and scalebandwidthasbusinessesgrow.

Here’s a closer lookat someof thebig-gest issues facing INCOMPAS in 2016:

Broadband Competition and Special Access Special access services are a linchpin to competition in the business broad-band and wireless markets. These arededicated lines that are vital to busi-ness operations and wireless backhaul.INCOMPAS has, and will continue, to urge the Commission to act expeditiously toadopt comprehensive policy reforms tostoptheexerciseofmarketpowerinthiscriticalmarket.Pro-competitivepoliciesfor special access services will stimulated investment and innovation, the positive impact of which will reverberate acrossvariousindustries.

Let’s face it: Every American who relieson a wireless connection for an UBER

ride or connecting with friends on Twitter and Snapchat has a dog in the fight for promoting wired and wireless competi-tionandinnovationviaspecialaccess.

Onabroader scale,wirelinebroadbandcompetition has a tremendous impact on howbusinesseslargeandsmall,schools,hospitals, and nonprofit organizationsoperate and grow through secured man-aged services, cloud computing, and con-nectiontotheInternet.

Chairman Tom Wheeler and the FCCdeserve praise for their work moving the data collection effort and policy reformprocessforward.Theyarerespondingtothehundredsofbusinesscustomerswhohave asked the FCC to protect and pro-mote competition. Competition brings

thembetterserviceandlowerprices.

Last year, INCOMPAS organized busi-nesses and trade associations represent-ing150thousandgasstationsandconve-niencestorestorallybehindcompetitionpolicy. Expect that effort to increase in2016.

Ending the Bell Lock-UpThe FCC has also launched an investiga-tion into terms and conditions within broadband plans that lock up custom-ersand lockout competition forbroad-band services. The FCC is looking intodamaging terms and condition that are preventing customers from moving to a competitive provider, and delaying thedeploymentofnewadvancednetworks.

Competition Policy Marches Forward in 2016ByChipPickeringCEOINCOMPAS

25

New Networks InitiativeThe House Energy and CommerceSubcommittee on Communicationsand Technology has been addressingbroadbanddeploymentissuesinaseriesof hearings. In December 2015, theSubcommittee voted a combined pack-ageofpreviouslyreleasedlegislativepro-posals designed to reduce barriers todeployment.

Included in this package is the bi-par-tisan-supported "Dig Once" legislation,whichproposestolaybroadbandcableswhiledoingroadrepairstominimizetraf-ficcongestion.

INCOMPAS has supported the legislation, in addition to developing a coalition to protect the pole attachment language in

the House broadband deployment billand to encourage Senate consideration of similar provisions so that network buildersfaceasfewbarriersaspossibletobringcompetitiveoptionstomarket.

Set Top Box ReformInJanuary,ChairmanWheelerannouncedhis intention to begin a process at theFCC that could finally bring an end tothe cable monopoly of the set top boxmarketplace. Unlike the cable set topbox,newcompetitivedevicesallowcon-sumersthefreedomtomoveseamlesslybetween traditional television channelsandnewover-the-topbasedcontentandapps.Forcedleasingoftheoldcableboxis costing consumers $231 each year.That’scollectivelyabout$20billionayearforthecablecompanieswhichalsocon-trol99percentofthesettopboxdevicemarket.

INCOMPAS supports the “CompetitiveNavigation” solution that will promoteconsumer choice and competition in the access of Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPD) andOver-the-Top(OTT)video.

The long and the short of it is this: No consumer wants their streaming content blockedorbarricadedbythecablecom-pany; people shouldn’t have to switchremotestowatchtheirfavoriteover-the-topshows.

Byendingmonopolycontrolandbreakingopen the set topboxmarket,ChairmanWheelerandtheFCChavethepowertopresent a free market solution for video devices thatwill bringboth competitionand innovation and more video choice to consumers.

Video ReformCompetitorsofferingbroadbandInternetaccess service must also offer video ser-vice in order to effectively compete inthe residential marketplace. However,a NTCA/INCOMPAS video survey of ourrespective members demonstrates thedifficulty with obtaining reasonablypricedprogramming.The survey resultsstate that 95% of small providers andnew entrants into the video/broadbandmarket struggle to obtain reasonably-

priced programming, and 40% reportretransmission consent fee price increas-esofmorethan100%duringthecurrentcontract cycle. TheCommissionhas theopportunity to address the pricing dis-parities new entrant and small providers face in its pending retransmission con-sent proceeding. By doing so, competi-tors can put more resources into their network upgrades and deployments tobetterserveconsumers.

Final ThoughtsThefightformorecompetitionisabattleonmanyfronts.Butwithaunifiedcoali-tion we can unleash new waves of inno-vationandconsumerbenefits. Theendresultwillbegreaterchoice, innovation,and economic development – and ulti-mately a brighter future for consumersandbusinesscustomers.

About the AuthorChip Pickering became CEO of INCOMPAS in January 2014. Pickering was a six-term Congressman, representing Mississippi’s Third District. During this time, he served on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, where he was vice chairman from 2002 to 2006 and a member of the Telecommunications Subcommittee. He also was co-chairman and founder of the Congressional Wireless Caucus and an assistant minority whip of the House. Previously, Chip worked for Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and served as a staff member on the Senate Commerce Committee, where he helped shape the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Because of his role in drafting the 1996 Act, he became well known as a Congressional leader on telecommunica-tions issues. Most recently, Chip was a partner with Capitol Resources LLC, a pub-lic affairs and government relations firm, where he represented an array of telecom clients, including wireless, cable and com-petitive broadband providers, as well as non-profits and companies specializing in education, energy, technology and defense. There, he also played a vital role as one of the principal negotiators in developing a wireless industry agreement for interoper-ability in the 700 block.

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There’snoquestioninanyone’smindthatthecloudisbooming,includingHostedIPTelephonyandUnifiedCommunications.Suchrapidmarketexpansionprovidessomuchopportunity,thousandsofcompa-niesintheUShavejoinedthemarketasaVoIPServiceproviderofsomesort.Fromlocal carriers to Tier 1 national carriers, small Managed Services outfits to largerecognizable names in hosted internettelephony, there is literallya seaof ser-viceprovidersout there,vying foreverycustomer’sMonthlyRecurringChargesastheymovetothecloud.

While every service provider is keen-ly aware of the value of that monthlycharge for the service, there are manyproviderswhohave yet to embrace therevenue opportunity of the associateddevices–thedeskphones.Now,Iknowmobiledeviceshavetheirplaceforsomeusersas theexclusivedevice,andwhilethatnumberissmalltodayitisgrowing.Butforthenextseveralyears,thefactisthat thedeskphonewill stillbe thepri-marychoiceforover2/3’sofusers.TheSIP Phone market will continue its rapid double-digit growth rate through 2020,driven primarily by hosted telephony,andthispresentsopportunityforServiceProviderstocaptureadditionalrevenue.Service Providers that sell the phones are abletorecognize30-45%morerevenue,andevenmorebybundlingthosephonesintothemonthlyservicefee.Inordertotakeonthisresponsibility,it iscriticaltohave highly reliable products that areeasy to deploy andmaintain, and solidtechnical support from the phone manu-facturer to ensure happy, loyal custom-ers and reduceoperating costs. This issomething Mitel delivers, and our resell-ersfranklyraveaboutit.

We’vetalkedaboutgettingmorerevenuefromcustomersalreadyacquired.Oneofthe challenges associated with this mar-ket growth, and the abundant choicescustomers have in selecting a provider, is brand awareness. Customer referralis the most powerful lead generation tool critical to new customer acquisition – ifthe customers knowWHO provides theservice. How many end users actuallyknowwhotheirprovideris–5%atmost?The people that manage the relationship

andthepeoplethatpaythebillsaretheonlyonesthatwouldknowthis6monthsafter the install (unless the install went poorly, then unfortunately most usersremember.) Whatabout theother95%ofusers?Imaginehowmanytimesadaysomeonecallsortextsafriendandasks“Whodoyouuseforyourphoneservice,mycompanyislooking,andyoursseemsgreat.”Youknowwhatthatpersonbeingasked does as a proud brand advocate–theylookdownattheirphoneandre-spond with the name of the phone manu-facturer.

That phone represents a branding op-portunity forServiceProviders, and it isan opportunity to ensure their brand isin frontofnearlyeveryenduser. Sure,youcanputastickeronthephone,whichisn’t themostprofessional image. Mitel(who acquired Aastra) took a differentapproach than other SIP phone makers, and manufactures the new 6800 series phones with Service Provider brandingin mind. The phones have a replace-able logo plate, making rebranding thephonesliterallya“snap”.(SeewhatIdidthere?)Thecolorphonedisplayscanalsoeasilybe rebrandedduringprovisioningto create an OEM-like product withoutthe complexity and stocking require-ments. Thismakes itverycost-effectivefor our distributors and service provid-erstorebrandthephoneson-demandaspartofprovisioning.Weevenleveragedthis capabilityourselves toofferour re-sellersachoiceinphonebrand–AastraorMitel.

This is one of those 1+1=3 scenarios whereopportunityisknockingto:1-max-imizerevenuesfromeverycustomerand,2-rapidlyincreaseleadgenerationsoyoucanrepeat#1overandoveragain.

Getting More Out Of the Hosted Telephony ExplosionBy:PatrickT.SheehanDirector, Open Solutions Sales Mitel

“The SIP Phone market will continue its rapid double-digit growth rate through

2020 . . . “

28

Ifoilisblackgold,thenfiberhasbecomeglass gold. The rapid growth in mobileand cloud services have led to increased demand fordark fiber leases.Andown-ers of dark fiber have awakened to thereality that they own a long-term assetthat can be monetized. But this rapidexpansioninaccessservicesofferedoverdarkfiberhascreatedadangeroussitua-tion:Therehasbeennowayforthedarkfiber provider and/or lessee tomonitorand guarantee his service… at least until now.

Access Technologies and Networks GrowMobileandcloudservicesarebothmegatrends that have led to the development andproliferationoffiberaccesstechnol-ogies such as edgeless unmanaged CPE and CPRI fronthaul, all leveraging darkfibertotransportincreasingamountsofbandwidth.Darkfiberownersnowhaveawidevarietyofcustomerstoleasetheirdarkfiberservices,but thesecustomerswant the service to remaindark. If theywanted a lit-service, they would haveleased a wavelength or switched port.Furthermore, the access ecosystem isvery diverse, and today’s customermaybetomorrow’scompetitor.Ifadarkfiberproviderwere to lightuphis fiber, thenhiscustomersmayworryaboutthepro-viderofferingthesameservicestheyareoffering. Customers who want to con-

sumedarkfiberwantitkeptdark,whichiswhyeventodaytheseservicestendtobe“blind”services.

Blind Services are DangerousThis situation puts everyone in a toughposition. Thedark fiberownerwants tomonetizehisassetbyleasingittoaccessservice providers, and the access service providerwants tomakemoneybypiec-ing together fiber links to carry theirend customers’ traffic end-to-end, andthe end customer is working under the assumption the connection will simplyalways be up. None of this can hap-

pen without Service Level Agreements (SLAs),butthere isnowaytoguaranteeor ensure the service without active in-servicemonitoring.

It is beyond careless to leave the glassgold of our digital society unmonitoredin theground.Whenoutagesoccur, theonly alarm for the access service pro-vider is a phone call from an unhappycustomer. The access service providerhas no way of knowing his end-cus-tomer’s link is really down or not, but

must roll a truck anyway to investigateand – if confirmed – locate the source of the problem.Meanwhile, the dark fiberowner has no idea what is happening, and no way to know if the issue is intheir fiber. In summary, three unhappycompanies,allguessingatwhatmaybewrongand losingmoneyuntil someonefiguresout theproblemand resolves it.Fortunately, there is another way thatsolves this conundrum while keeping everyonehappy.

Shining a Light in the DarkThere isnoreasonaccess linksmustbe

blind,norremaindark.Byre-thinkingthesituation entirely and taking a differentapproach,everyoneintheaccessecosys-tem cannot merely be kept happy, butalsogreatlyexceedeachother’sexpecta-tions.Thekeyispassivein-servicemoni-toring of the physical fiber. An opticalsignal can be added into the fiber andextracted later. This independent opti-cal signal allows the fiber’shealth tobecharacterized along its length. The fiberowner is able to monitor his physicalasset, without encroaching upon his cus-

Attention Network Operations: Your Dark Fiber Should Not Be Dark To You!The lack of a fiber management system is costing you money. ByJimTheodorasSenior Director Business Development North AmericaADVA Optical Networking

29

tomers’business.Thecustomer(andthecustomer’scustomer)canbreatheeasierknowing that the health of the fiber isbeingmonitored in real-time and whilein-service. SLAs can be written againstverifiableavailabilitymetrics,ratherthanbest intentions. Degradation in fiberqualitycanbecaughtwellbeforeservicedegrades,andbeforealarmbellsringatcustomersites.Awin-winforeveryone.

Access Link MonitoringADVA Optical Networking has devel-oped the FSP3000 ALM, an Access Link Monitoring solution which is able toproactively manage fiber infrastructureacross any fiber services, any protocolsand any customer equipment - all ata low cost point. The implementationconsists of a central unit that monitors multiple fiber services in parallel andsmall inline reflectors placed at access end nodes. The reflectors may be pre-installed during build-outs, or later asupgrades, as they do not interferewithnormalservice.TheALMworksbyinject-ing a small optical signal at one end of the fiber which travels down the fiberand isreflectedbackupthefibertothepoint of injection. A signal processor inthe main unit compares changes in the opticalreturnlosstoarecordedmask.Ifa difference is identified, the distance to

theoutageiscalculatedbytimeofflightof the signal to reach the disturbance.Faultlocalizationispreciseandfast,andsince a reflector is located at the CPE end ofthefiber,onlyonepersonisneededtotroubleshoot link problems rather thanthetypicaltwo.Suddenly,darkfiberser-

vices are not an unknown quantity, butrather a precisely monitored asset thatcanmonetizedtothefullestextent. 

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As the telecom industry knocks at thedoorofthetelcocloud,operatorsareex-pressingconcernsaboutfindingthestaffskill sets needed to support innovation.These service providers need to signifi-cantly enhance their capability for soft-waredevelopmentandintegration.Theyalso need to move from operational silos and waterfall development to agile and DevOps for development and delivery.Theyareclearlyanxiousaboutthisshift.

Value Domain KnowledgeTelco service providers have a wealth of domain knowledge that is relevant and supports this innovation. Duringmy re-cent “Real CTOs of NFV” interview withTim Naramore of Masergy, Tim notedthat Masergy’s new Virtual f(n) service,basedonNFVatthecustomerpremise,issupportedbyexistingMasergystaffandoperationalsystems.

“One of the reasons we like our virtualnetwork function partners is that we al-readyuseBrocadeinournetwork.Weal-readyuseFortinetinournetwork.Whenwe rolled this service out I didn't have to go to the NOC and teach them how to use a different firewall from another com-pany.Iwasabletosay,‘Thisisthesamething.It’sjustadifferentIPaddress.’

Howyougetitsetupisdifferent,butthat’s

aone-timething.Howyoumaintainitgo-ingforwardandhowyouinteractwithitonadailybasis,that'sthesame.Iwantedto deliver it to those brand names forone,butalsoIwantedtoleveragetheop-erational knowledge that I already haveinmygroup,”Timsaid.

Smart Dogs Can Learn New TricksWeatOverture(nowpartofADVAOpticalNetworking)madeourownshift.WehadmanyyearsofexperiencewithtraditionalCarrier Ethernet appliances and a large installedbaseofmajorserviceprovidersworldwide.

We began re-inventing our product linein2012tofocusonnetworkvirtualizationandwehadtoalsore-inventourorgani-zation.PrincipalEngineerDavidGriswoldenjoyeda long career in embeddedde-velopmentbefore learninganewsetofdevelopment processes, languages and programmingmodels.

“With an appliance like our traditionalproducts, the environment is very con-trolled. In a cloud-based model, youhave a lot more variability: processortype, speed and core count, cache andmemorysize,coreaffinities,NICflavors,kernel versions, etc. Making the packetperformance deterministic is much more difficultthanintheappliancemodel.The

sheervolumeofinformationcanbeover-whelming.Toworkeffectivelyinthisenvi-ronmentyouhavetogetovertheneedtoknowhoweverythingworks.Inaddition,youwindupputtingalotoftrustinopensource,andthatcanbescary,”Davidsaid.

Did his previous embedded experiencehelp?

“Absolutely. We have always createdsoftware that moves and manipulates packets,andweareveryfamiliarwiththeoperators’ services and networks. Thatdomain knowledge gave me the back-groundtosucceedinthenewvirtualizedenvironment,”hesays.

Retraining is a StartCarol Wilson, Editor at Large at LightReading sees operators trying differentstrategies, including retraining existingstaff.

“AT&T is probably the best example ofmass retraining. They’re working to re-trainthousandsofpeople,”sheobserves.“Rather than saying, ‘Are you trained todothisspecificprogramorgetthatspe-cificcertification,’theyareasking,‘What’syour skill set andhowcanwe take thatskill set andfit in towhatweneed in adifferentway?’”

Go to the Talent “We did an event on carrier white boxstrategies in November in Santa Clara.There was a lot of discussion around the fact that telcos don’t have core IT skills in great abundance, particularlywhen youstart looking at the ability to do thingsthatsomefolks inSiliconValleytakeforgranted, such as Chef, Puppet and Dock-er,”shenotes.

She says service providers are openingofficesinSiliconValleytobeclosetothenew talent.However,withstiffcompeti-tionfromhigh-profilestartupsandglam-ourplayersSiliconValleyisacompetitiveenvironment.

Creating A Fast-Paced CultureCarol also points to AT&T’s Brooks Mc-Corcle.ThreeyearsagoMcCorclepulledtogether a small group of top AT&T per-formersandgavethem90daystodevel-opabusinessfortheSMBmarket.

Staffing Your Organization for Telco InnovationBy Prayson Pate Chief Technology Officer for Ensemble Software ADVA Optical Networking

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Focus on AutomationTravis Ewert, SVPof global softwarede-velopmentatLevel3,sayshiscompanyisaiming to increase operational scale and customer control by expanding the useof automation, as opposed to focusing specificallyonSDNand/orNFV.

“Whethertheresourceisphysicalorvir-tual, for us the heavy investment is onwhat orchestrates and controls all those elements.Wedidn’thavea focusonar-chitecture,engineeringoroperationsbythemselves. Instead we worked acrossthegroups.Wefoundfolkswhocameoutof thosebackgrounds tobeour innova-tionleaders,”Travissays.

These leaders have one characteristic in particular: knowledge of the customer experience.

“Werelyonthosefolkswhoareclosertothecustomer.Thatcouldbesomeoneinoperations who understands the nature of network and services in addition to

theexperienceofthecustomer.Theyun-derstandboththetoolingofthenetworkandtheserviceslayeredontop,aswellaswhat it means to turn up and assure that service,”Travissays.

Inaddition,Level(3)ishiringfinancialser-vices industry experts. “They have beensupportingstocktrading,whereyouhavemillionsofdataseriesandyouarelook-ingforacorrelationoranomalytotriggeranevent.Wearerelyingonthemtobuildsimilar types of capabilities for morenetwork-centricdata.Wearealsogoingbeyond simple algorithms to machinelearningorevenartificialintelligence,”henotes.

How does Level(3) get these new hiresup to speed on telco services and opera-tions?

“We put our developers on rotations towatch over the shoulder of our opera-tional teams and perhaps even do their jobsforaperiod.Doingsogivesthede-velopers a completely different appre-ciation for the operator's role and what itmeanstothecustomer.Wealsohavecurriculum and training focusing on op-erationsandservices.Theseeffortshelpthe more traditional IT developers get network-savvy,”Travisnotes.

Has Level(3) totally solved the skill setproblem?

“ThosearestrongwordssoIamnotsureI would go that far. We do know whatkindofstaffexpertisewewant:network-ing experience, software aptitude andbusinessprocesses. It’snot easy tofindallthree,soyoutakepeoplewithtwoofthe three and train them, and that's not easy,”hesays.

Just a StartThis is not an exhaustive discussion ofstrategies to address the skill set and culturaltransitionoperatorsmustmake.I hope it provides ideas operators can implement to get to innovation more quickly.Youcanfindmyoriginalpostsonthis topic at www.linkedin.com/in/pray-sonpate.

Prayson Pate is chief technology officer for En-semble Software at ADVA Optical Networking. Prior to joining ADVA, Prayson was CTO and co-founder of Overture Networks, which was acquired by ADVA in January 2016.

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Four Network of the Future conference tracks

Keynotes Ñ Jim Cicconi, Senior Executive Vice President, AT&T Ñ John Donovan, Senior Executive Vice President, AT&T Ñ David Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President, Comcast Ñ Myrna Soto, Global Chief Information Security Officer, Comcast Ñ Craig Silliman, Executive Vice President, Verizon

Cohosted with Ñ AT&T’s Annual Supplier Conference Ñ USTelecom Cybersecurity Track Ñ QuEST Forum – Quality, Best Practices and Sustainability in Telecommunications

Also Featuring Ñ 5G and NFV/SDN Technology Showcase Ñ OneM2M, 5G, SDN Workshops

NETWORK VIRTUALIZATION

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Who attends TIA’s Network of the Future?

Ñ Network service providers Ñ Network operators Ñ Carriers Ñ Private network developers and operators Ñ Wireless carriers and cable operators Ñ Technology buyers and suppliers Ñ Government policymakers Ñ Cybersecurity specialists Ñ Analysts

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34

David Cotten joinedWalker and Associatesduring the fourth quar-ter of 2015. David livesin Rockwall, TX whichis a suburb of Dallas.His career started over35yearsagowithNortel

Networks where he held various positions includingengineerandaccountexecutivefortheirentirecarrierbasedlineofprod-uctsandservices.UponleavingNortelfol-lowing15yearsofservice,Davidwent toWave7andOSIpromotingthefirstFTTHsolutions intotheIOCandCLECmarkets.In theearly2000’s,he joinedCoppercomas their regional sales manager selling soft switches into the IOC, carrier and CLEC space.Asthesoftswitchmarkettightened,David continuedwith Taqua in the samemarkets.

Davidhasagreattrackrecordandenjoysa wonderful reputation within the carrier markets. Recently,Davidownedhisownconsulting business and also worked forUnitedPower in the localmarkets.DavidhasbeencoveringthestatesofTX,NM,AZ,OK,LAforhisentirecareerandknowsjustabouteveryone inWalker’s target carrieraccounts inhisnew sales territory.He isexcitedtobeatWalkerandwillbeagreatasset to customers and supplier partners in OK, TX, AZ and NM. Please welcomeDavidtotheteamandintroduceyourselfwhen you get a chance. His email is da-vid.cotten@walkerfirst.com, or he can bereachedbyphoneat336.731.5431.

Bob Sawyer recentlyjoined Walker and As-sociates as the RegionalAccount Manager for the states of VA, PA, NJ,WV,MD and DE, in addition to NYC,NYandtheDCarea.Bob has many years of

sales, engineering and solutions architect experience with a variety of networkingcompanies.Bob’s career includes timeatservice providers including AT&T and XO, inadditiontohisexperiencewithtelecomstartups.Bob is anoutstanding technicalsales resource and has demonstrated the abilitytodrivegrowthandmeetcomplexnetworking needs. Bob loves to collabo-

rateandtacklenewprojectopportunities.

Regarding his new opportunity, Sawyerstates “Spearheading consultative andsolution sales processes, strengthening business relationships, and optimizingprofitability characterizemy career focusand success. Additionally, I’ve used mysuperior interpersonal and communica-tion skills to articulate corporate vision, facilitate decision-making, and encour-age excellence. Throughout my career Ihavedealtwithcustomers inavarietyofcircumstances.Ihavealwaysbeenabletoestablishanexcellentrapportwithclients,resolveproblemstomaintainsatisfactionand loyalty, and effectively address anyothercustomerneeds.I’mexcitedtobeapartoftheWalkerteamandlookforwardtobringingthisskillsettomyclientsintheColonialterritorytohelpthemrealizetheirorganization’svision.”

Walker is very excited to have someonewith his background and skills to servicecustomers in this region of the country.Bob can be reached by email at bob.sawyer@walkerfirst.com, or by phone at336.731.5367.

KevinBeck(notpictured)hasjoinedWalk-erandAssociatesastheRegionalAccountManager for the company’s “Heartland”territory,coveringthestatesofKS,MO,LA,andAR.HejoinstheWalkerteamwithover20yearsofexperienceinthetelecommu-nications industry, having spent most ofhis career at Tellabs and Alcatel-Lucent,focused primarily on sales and businessdevelopment. His background and areasof expertise include data, access, opticalandsecuritysolutionsinbothwirelessandwirelinenetworks.

“I am excited to be a part of theWalkerteamandlookforwardtomeetingyouinthe upcoming weeks and months. I willprovideyouwith theexpert supportandthe exceptional service you have cometo expect from us. By working together,we canhelp your companyachieveevengreater results for your bottom line andforthecustomersyouserve.”Kevin most recently worked for Coriant(Tellabs)wherehecoveredSprintforthembased while based in Kansas City. Priorto working at Coriant, Kevin held sales

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and management positions at Ekinops, Lucent,Starentandavarietyofstartupsin the networking industry. He brings awealthofnetworkingandindustryknowl-edge as well as strategic account man-agementexperience.

Kevincanbereachedbyemailatkevin.beck@walkerfirst.com, or by phone at336.731.5433.

Evan Kline recentlyjoinedWalkerandAsso-ciates as an Inside Sales Executive. He currentlylives in Winston Salemnear the company’sheadquarters. Evan’sbackground includes

strong selling and customer relationship skills that will transition well to his new role at Walker. Most recently, he man-aged a Starbucks store, overseeing em-ployeetrainingandperformance,aswellasmeeting company standards for cus-tomer service and satisfaction, monitor-ing customer count/average ticket andmeeting sales goals set by the districtmanager.EvanhascompletedextensivetrainingatWalkerthatquicklysethimupforfamiliaritywiththeindustry,technol-ogy and company resources designedto facilitate successful customer interac-tions.

Evan can be reached by phone at336.731.5240,orbyemailatevan.kline@walkerfirst.com.

Brian Johnson has joined Walker and As-sociates as Juniper FieldSystemsEngineer.Brianwill work with Walker’snational sales team, and others throughout the organization, in supportofbusinessdevelopment

efforts.Brianhasmanyyearsofexperi-ence in engineering and other technical roles working with Hard Drive Central,Northern Valley Communications andmostrecentlyDickeyRuralNetworks.Asan Engineer at DRN, Brianworkedwithexistingmembers ofWalker’s sales andengineering teams, as well as Walker’sJuniperpartnersnetworkmodernizationinitiatives.Brianplayedakeyroleinde-cisions leading to transitioning Juniperasthecorenetworktechnology,displac-ing an aging Cisco environment. Brianearned his BS in MIS at Northern State University. He also holds several Ciscotechnicalcertifications.BrianlivesinAberdeen,SDwithhiswifeandthreechildren.Hecanbereachedbyemail at brian.johnson@walkerfirst.com,

orbyphoneat336.731.5411.

Diane GarciahasjoinedWalker and Associates,asanInsideSalesExecu-tive. With an extensivebackground in all areasof Telecommunications, Diane Garcia has beeninvolved in various stag-

es of telecommunications sales, service andsupport forover21years.MuchofthattimehasbeenspentintheWashing-ton and Oregon areas, where she worked asaMajorAccountsManagerforSmart-RGinEugene,Oregon.

Diane has achieved several high-levelCisco network certifications and bringsto the table a superior skillset for voiceand data services, call center applications andtelecomhardware.Her industryex-perience includes Network Planning, Net-work Engineering, ProjectManagement,New Business Development and more.Diane’s positive attitude and attention to detail havemade her extremely suc-cessful in working with customers and prospects.Herabilitytoeffectivelyutilizeher needs analysis skills to determineand propose the best communicationspaths her clients should be heading to-ward,havegainedherveryhighlevelofcustomertrustandloyalty.Sheisviewedasa telecommunicationssubjectmatterexpertbyherclientsaswellasherpeers.

Diane’sworkethics,dependability,dedi-cation to customer satisfaction and strong technical acumen have made her a proven asset to the telecommunica-tions industry, her employers and thecustomerssheserves.Sheistrulyadedi-cated,positive teamplayerwitha solid,proven background of experience, skillsandcapabilities.

Diane may be reached at diane.gar-cia@walkerfirst.com, or by phone at336.731.5251.

Adam Blackley, a sea-soned associate at Walker, has rejoinedthe inside sales depart-ment as an Inside Sales Executive. His most re-centexperiencewiththeGovernmentInsideSales

teamaffordedhimawiderangeofcus-tomer interaction,additional technologytraining,andextensiveknowledgeofcus-tomersupporttools.

Hisnewresponsibilitieswillkeephim incontact with customers in Upstate NY,TN and IA, calling on them with product

offers, managing customer orders, re-solving customer issues, and consulting with them on new solutions for their net-works.

Adamcanbereachedat336.731.5383,orby email at adam.blackley@walkerfirst.com.

Cindy Sheets recentlyjoined Walker and As-sociates as the Inside Sales Executive handlingthe states of CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, and VT. Shecomments“Iamveryex-cited to join the teamof

experiencedprofessionalsatWalkerandlook forward to working with customers throughouttheNewEnglandterritory.” Cindy joins the Walker team with over30yearsofexperience insalesandcus-tomer service. Already she has demon-strated a strong commitment to provid-ing customers with the expert supportandexceptionalservice theyhavecometoexpectfromWalker.

She can be contacted at cindy.sheets@walkerfirst.com,or336.731.5390.

Pam SmithjoinedWalk-er’s Government InsideSalesTeam. Shewillbehandling DOD accounts and Prime Contractors to help handle the growth experienced in quotesfromthesecustomers.

Pam sold to the DoD with a focus on the AirForceforthelast6yearswhileatPCMall-Gov. PriortothatPamwasanac-count manager dealing with contract of-ficers,endusers,purchasecardholders,programmanagers, and OEM relations.ShestudiedattheDeVryInstituteinpro-gramming.ShebegansellingrefurbishedPC equipment in 1985 and has been intheenterprisebusinesssincethen. Shehaspreviouslyownedherowncompany.

She enjoys attending her church, is amovie buff, loves animals, family andfriends.Shealsolovesvolunteeringatajuvenileprisonministry.

PleasejoinWalkerandAssociatesinwel-coming Pam’s entrepreneurial experi-ence and enthusiasm to the team. Shecanbecontactedatpam.smith@walker-first.com,orbyphoneat336.731.5448.

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Following a year of growth and newbusiness opportunities, members ofthe industry’s manufacturer communitycame together during the Walker andAssociates AnnualMeeting to recognizesalesandmarketing leaders.Presentersincluded some of the most recognizedcompany names in the industry, under-scoring the wealth of manufacturer rela-tionships Walker offers its customers.An often repeated sentiment was an appreciation for the hard work, commit-ment, and determination demonstrated by Walker and its sales and marketingteams in solving customer problems,presenting value at each opportunity,and exceeding expectations amongequipmentmanufacturers.

In addition to individual awards,WalkerwasrecognizedbyADTRANastheirTopService Provider Distributor in 2015,

markingthecompany’s13thconsecutiveyear achieving this status. The partner-shipbetweenADTRANandWalkerspansnearly two decades, representing solidcommitments to carriers throughout the USmarket.Walker’s statusasADTRAN’slargest service provider distributor pro-vides customers enormous value, includ-ingselection,availability,pricing,serviceandcustomersupport.

Later in the evening, Walker presentedawards to manufacturers in recognition of their partnerships with the compa-ny. Taking time to pay tribute to theinnovation, support and loyalty amongmanufacturer partners, Trey Hall, VPof Marketing commented, “Tonight aswe reflect on our success in 2015 andlookaheadto2016withexcitement,weareproud toshareourcelebrationwitheach of ourmanufacturer partners. Asa value-added distributor, Walker andAssociates is fueled by the innovation,collaboration,andsupportofoursuppli-ers.AswewrapWalkerservices,support,and solutions around our manufacturers’ offerings the value that we collectivelydeliver to our customers is something we shouldalltakegreatpridein.“

Juniper Networks was recognized withthegreatestyear-over-yeardollargrowthawardfor2015. CommScopecameinaclose second place for the same. Cienareceived an award for the greatest %

increase in sales year over year. Thesepartners are congratulated for the people andprocesses theyput inplace to sup-portWalkeranditscustomerbase.Theirattention on training, shared resources and solid leadership contribute to theirsuccessfulworkwithWalker’s sales andmarketingteams.

Walker also presented an awardto Manuela Voss, who works for CommScope, inrecognitionofheryearsof service toWalker’smarketingdepart-ment. The Hank Ford Memorial Awardis presented each year to recognize anindividual who rises to the highest level of performance in support of product and event marketing, as well as their focusonbestofbreedchannelmarket-ingstrategies.Manuela’sextensiveexpe-riencehasspannedheryearsatADC,TEConnectivity, and now at CommScope.Richard Dempster, OEM DevelopmentManager for CommScope has worked with Manuel since 2005 and states“Manuela Voss has been consistentlyinstrumental and pivotal in the success of Walker, devoting her dedication andcommitment to serve the partner com-munity.”

The awards event was sponsored col-lectively by ADTRAN, ADVA OpticalNetworking, Brocade, Ciena, CommScope, Corning, Fujitsu, Juniper Networks, andMicrosemi.AlsoattendingwereEmersonNetworkPowerandTelect.

In addition to awards presented bymanufacturer partners, Walker recog-nized associates in sales and market-ing for their performance during 2015.The President’s Citation Award was pre-sented to OEM Development Managers whoreached100%oftheirannualplan,andsalesassociateswererecognizedfortheir leadership in sales and profit goal attainment.

The evening concluded with comments from Chrystie Walker-Brown, companyCEO, and Mark Walker, company presi-dent. They expressed appreciation forstrong partnerships with manufacturers, commitmentbyassociates,andacknowl-edgementofastrongteamofcollabora-tionandinnovationbetweenWalkeranditshealthylistofmanufacturerpartners.A challenge was issued to rise to chal-lenges and opporunities ahead in 2016, always keeping an eye on presentingvaluetosharedcustomers.

Recognizing ExcellenceWalker’s 2015 Sales and Marketing Outstanding Performance Recognized by Manufacturer Community

Trey Hall, Walker’s VP of Marketing, welcomes attendees to the awards presentation.

Jennifer Beck, Walker OEM Development Manager of ADTRAN, receives Top Service Provider Distributor Award from Mark Ogden, Director of Distribution Sales, Service Provider Teamfor ADTRAN

38

WHAT’S THE BIG NFV IDEA?

Less time to market means more times to market. Ideate, automate, and repeat with NFV and VNFs

that accelerate change. And profits.

www.juniper.net/big-nfv-idea

Asanactivememberofmultiplestate,regionalandnationalindustryassociations,

WalkerandAssociatesisstrategicallyengagedwithorganizationssupporting

telecommunicationsmarkets.Wedemonstrate our commitment through event sponsorships,exhibitingatconferencesand

expos,anddirectoryadvertising.

Look for us at the events listed here, and refertotheUpcomingEventssectionofour

website,www.walkerfirst.com,foradditionaldetails.

Welookforwardtoseeingyouattheseevents!

February*UtilityTelecomForum2016 Reno,NV

LTA Annual Convention New Orleans, LA

GTAVendorShowcase2016 Macon,GA

*UTCRegion72016SpringMeeting Austin, TX

*CalComShowcaseandTechExpo2016 Sacramento, CA

TelecomTraining&SafetyConf2016 Bismarck, ND

March*UTCRegion32016SpringMeeting St.PeteBeach,FL

ITA Showcase Northwest 2016 Portland,OR

SDTASpringWorkshop Oacoma, SD

*ICAAnnualMeeting&Expo2016 Des Moines, IA

MTA Annual Convention & Trade Show Minneapolis, MN

MTIAShow-MeExpo Columbia,MO

* SCTBA Spring Convention Charleston, SC

April* INCOMPAS Show Spring 2016 Washington,DC

* NC Telecom Conference Pinehurst, NC

TexasCommunicationsExpo,Inc. Belton, TX

TANESpringSymposium South Portland, ME

OTA Outside Plant Seminar Newport,OR

UTCRegion6 OverlandPark,KS

May*UTCTelecom2016 Denver, CO

FNA Conference 2016 Buford,GA

NDTA TOC Conference & Showcase Fargo, ND

FiberNetworkAlliance Buford,GA

OTA-WITAJointAnnualMeeting Seattle,WA

ANMTA Spring Conference Santa Fe, NM

KTAAnnualMeeting Lexington,KY

OTA 121st Annual Convention Columbus,OH

JuneNYSTAAnnualConference LakePlacid,NY

TTA Annual Meeting Franklin, TN

IBTA Annual Con vention French Lick, IN

ITA Annual Convention Springfield,IL

Tri-StateTechnologyConference Williamsburg,VA

FTTHExpo Nashville, TN

TIA Network of the Future 2016 Dallas, TX

*-IndicatesWalkerandAssociatesisaneventsponsor

Proud Member of:

Society of CableTelecommunicationsEngineers

39

WHAT’S THE BIG NFV IDEA?

Less time to market means more times to market. Ideate, automate, and repeat with NFV and VNFs

that accelerate change. And profits.

www.juniper.net/big-nfv-idea

7129 OLD HWY 52 N, WELCOME, NC 27374, 1-800-WALKER1, WALKERFIRST.COM

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Designed for high performanceAt SmartRG, the subscriber’s needs come first. By empowering broadband operators, SmartRG helps service providers move forward and offer the best end user experiences through world-class CPE, software, accessories.

Contact your Walker and Associates account manager for more information today.