Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is a concept that refers to the migration of certain network functionalities, traditionally performed by specialised hardware elements, towards fully-virtualized IT infrastructures, where they can be then deployed as pure software components within commodity servers. NFV is no longer an emerging concept; a couple of years after its appearance, it has been envisaged as one of the fundamental elements in the technological landscape under consideration for the migration from 4G to 5G infrastructure and services.
The European FP7 619520 T-NOVA project (Network Functions as a Service Over Virtualised Infrastructures) introduces a novel enabling-framework, allowing operators not only to deploy virtualized Network Functions (NFs) for their own needs, but also to offer them to their customers, as value-added services. Virtual network appliances (gateways, proxies, firewalls, transcoders, or even analyzers) can be provided on-demand as-a-Service, eliminating the need to acquire, install and maintain specialized hardware at customers’ premises. For these purposes, T-NOVA designs and implements a management/orchestration platform for the automated provision, configuration, monitoring and optimization of Network Functions-as-a- Service (NFaaS) over virtualised Network/IT infrastructures.
Furthermore, in order to facilitate the involvement of diverse actors in the NFV scene and attract new market entrants, T-NOVA establishes a “NFV Marketplace”, in which network services and functions by several developers can be published and brokered/traded. Via the Marketplace, customers can browse and select the services and virtual appliances, which best match their needs, as well as negotiate the associated SLAs and be charged under various billing models. A novel business case for NFV is thus introduced and promoted. The T-NOVA orchestrator solution is also capable to set up transport network services between the end-user and the different Cloud services utilized.
The first outcomes of the project after one year of execution will be demonstrated during the Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, March 2015. The NFV Marketplace and the interaction with the user will be showcased. The Marketplace users, i.e. Function Providers, will advertise their VNFs and Service Providers will be able to lively create a Network Service composed of different VNFs covering their business requirements and also, request for the dynamic deployment of the service.
The T-NOVA project is part of the European Union 5G initiative present in the MWC. The corresponding project demonstrations will be hosted at the i2CAT booth, located at the Hall 8.1, App Planet Stand 8.1K48. Please contact us for scheduled demos or meetings.
Contact details for MWC: Jordi Ferrer Riera (jordi.ferrer@i2cat.net)
More info on the T-NOVA project available at:
http://www.t-nova.eu
https://twitter .com/FP7TNOV A https://www.linkedin.com/groups/FP7-TNOVA-6760388
Participating partners: NCSR Demokritos, ATOS Spain S.A., Hewlett-Packard IIC, Portugal Telecom Inovaçao, Intel Performance Learning Sols. Ltd, PrimeTel PLC, Space Hellas S.A., Viotech Communications SARL, CloudStreet Oy, Future Intelligence Ltd, Italtel SpA, Tech. Ed. Institute of Crete, Gottfried W. Leibniz Universität Hannover, University of Milan, Consorzio per la Ricerca nell’Automatica e nelle Telecomunicazioni, Fraunhofer FOKUS, Zurich Univ. of Applied Sciences, Fundació i2CAT Internet i Innovació Digital a Catalunya