The Rethink Blog

In the previous two parts of this three-post series, we have provided a taxonomy for routers based on how their data plane and control plane components are implemented. We have put emphasis on disaggregated routers in the context of telecom operators, where the data plane is usually implemented in hardware, and the control plane implemented

In the prior post on virtual routing, we introduced the concept of a disaggregated router. Disaggregated routers are routers where control plane and data plane are provided by different vendors. The control plane is usually implemented in software. The data plane could be implemented in either hardware or software. For example, the use of a

This month, we are focused on virtual routing especially as it related to the new 5G service edge. We recently spoke on an Omdia webinar How to Futureproof your 5G Transport Network. We answered several questions that relate to virtual routing that we thought would be of broad interest. Question: Today, the 4G RUs and

5G opens up a new world to operators. According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, 5G subscriptions are forecast to reach 2.8 billion globally by the end of 2025  while GSMA Intelligence forecasts that total IoT connections will double between 2019 and 2025, reaching 24 billion. But what do MNOs need to get ready for the

There is tremendous interest in network virtualization and the benefits it can bring to service provider network deployments, especially for 5G. However, terms like legacy router, virtualized router, disaggregated router, virtual router, and network slicing may mean different things for different people. That sometimes gets in the way understanding the benefits of virtualization. The goal

A great deal of attention is being paid to 5G RAN and transport. This makes sense because the greenfield buildout of small cell sites is will be significant.  The shorter range of 5G will drive the “densification” of small cell sites.  The Small Cell Forum estimates that the number of cell sites will grow from

As 2019 winds down, Volta has been asked several times about our thoughts on what was significant in 2019 and our predictions for 2020. In 2019, we saw the tipping point in service providers moving to open networking from legacy infrastructure. The key was the availability of carrier-grade switching ASICs from vendors like Broadcom. A

On December 10, Volta and Fujitsu co-sponsored a webinar hosted by IHS Markit featuring Heidi Adams, Executive Director, Network Infrastructure Research.  Our topic was Virtual Routing in 5G Transport.  Attendees received a special report authored by Heidi. If you missed it, you watch it on-demand here and download the report, the slides and several other

Volta’s CEO, Dean Bogdanovic, presented at IETF 106 in Singapore on November 20.  His presentation addressed the evolution of network automation and programmability. He discussed where software should run and what should run on network hardware.  The presentation covered traffic engineering optimization and issues around carrier grade automation. Click on the image to watch the

Volta is gearing up for the TIP Summit next week in Amsterdam on November 13 and 14.  This will a great opportunity to engage with members of a thriving collaborative community. The Telecom Infra Project (TIP) has over “500 Member organizations, including operators, technology providers, developers, integrators, startups, and a range of other entities inside