Telefonica unveils UNICA virtualization infrastructure

News Wireless Global 24 FEB 2014
Telefonica unveils UNICA virtualization infrastructure
Telefonica has unveiled a network infrastructure initiative, dubbed UNICA, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The operator described UNICA as a pioneering network functions virtualization programme that will allow it to have more than 30 per cent of new infrastructure virtualized by 2016. The initiative is scheduled to begin implementation in June and, according to Telefonica, will provide it with a framework for its global, end-to-end virtualization deployment and convert the company into a true digital telecoms operator.

Telefonica has led on standardisation for virtualization since its inception, participating alongside other operators such as ATT or Verizon in key international forums on two of the most important standards: SDN and NFV. In addition, the company has been running proof of concept (PoC) trials with Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent and NEC, with Broadsoft, Nokia Solutions and Networks, HP and Ericsson also involved in the UNICA programme.

Telefonica and Huawei recently announced that phase II of the PoC testing for the UNICA project had been successfully completed. This included 188 test cases covering the maintenance and operation of virtual data centres, Software Defined Networking (SDN), cloud deployment of services, and compliance of OpenStack infrastructure. The PoC testing demo of the UNICA infrastructure will be showcased by the two companies at MWC. 

Telefonica is also planning to extend its virtualization programme to the home and has been running a virtual CPE trial in Brazil prior to launching the service in the fourth quarter of 2014. Under the strategy, all software and control functions for Telefonica modems will be moved into the Telefonica cloud without the need to install excessively technical equipment in the home.


 

Categories:

Mobile

Companies:

NOKIASUS-20401-Newsfeed,  Broadsoft,  HP,  Huawei China,  NEC,  Verizon,  Telefonica,  Nokia Solutions and Networks

Regions:

Global

Tags:

Production planning & operations, Technology development, Launch, Network equipment, Network operations services, Wireless, Client, Standardisation

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