Transport networks in the cloud age
Network convergence, the rise of content distribution networks and the consolidation of service hosting enabled by the cloud-computing model are significantly altering traffic patterns being observed by service providers. These developments, along with changes in the business environment, are driving the choices for technology.
Broadband and mobility have driven up demand for bandwidth and network-hosted applications. Cloud computing and the massive virtualization it enables are influencing the way this demand will be met and what network architecture will be needed to support applications that are bandwidth-hungry, storage-demanding and computing-intensive.
Seamless access to broadband and applications is raising the stakes for both private and commercial users, regardless of the type of connection method used. Access is driving the convergence of fixed and mobile networks to minimize transport infrastructure costs and maximize resource utilization.
At the same time, cloud computing, fuelled by massive growth in traffic and the consolidation of data centers, is changing the shape of the network-traffic matrix, making it less complex than before and making it easier for operators to predict traffic patterns.
The challenge for the operator is to ensure that investments made to simplify transport architecture are protected in the move to cloud service provider.