Verizon sources said last year that the carrier was working with more than 20 smaller companies on various software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) projects (see "Verizon announces major SDN transmission technology partners"). The global Tier 1 carrier has revealed the name of one of those companies: Viptela, with which Verizon has partnered for its software-defined WAN service.
Verizon unveiled the service last fall (see "Verizon offers SDN-based managed WAN service"). It now says the services leverage's Viptela's software-defined WAN platform. Viptela also has entered an exclusive managed services arrangement with Verizon in the United States.
The SD-WAN service enables enterprises to tap both private and public IP connections such as MPLS, wireless LTE, broadband, and Ethernet to meet their service needs. Verizon has made the service available in the U.S., Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.
The Viptela platform is delivered from Verizon's cloud and will be supported by Verizon's IT consulting group. It complements Verizon's existing managed SD-WAN portfolio, currently based on Cisco's iWAN technology. Viptela says its platform provides:
- Centralized management and increased agility
- Application performance and service availability
- Security
- Service-chaining
"The Verizon/Viptela global SD-WAN offering is a watershed moment in managed, cloud-enabled networking services given the new capabilities enabled by this technology," said Nav Chander, research manager within IDC's Worldwide Telecom Division, via a Verizon/Viptela press release. "Enterprises are just now realizing the promise of SDN and are shifting toward a managed environment especially as functions become virtualized. Verizon is well positioned to help its customers seize SDN's benefits and the potential it offers enterprises."
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