AT&T and Colt Technology Services have implemented MEF’s Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) Sonata APIs. Use of the APIs will enable business customers to order services that extend across the two operators’ networks “virtually seamlessly,” in the words of a press release.
The two service providers are the first to employ the Sonata API, use of which is designed to remove manual processes, decrease cycle times, and minimize handling errors. Prior to creation of Sonata, service providers often used disparate, proprietary systems to manage different aspects of their networks. This practice created incompatibilities between carriers that could complicate provision of an end-to-end service that required communication between networks operated by different service providers. The standardized LSO Sonata APIs are designed to avoid this issue and enable a service-agnostic approach for inter-provider service automation. Thanks to the implementation of Sonata, AT&T can now place automated orders for Colt’s Ethernet services. AT&T can validate site addresses, check service availability, receive a quote, and place automated orders on Colt’s network.
“There’s no doubt this will change how carriers interact and operate in the industry. Our interactions are now more cost-efficient, flexible, and error-free,” said Roman Pacewicz, chief product officer, AT&T Business. “We kicked off interoperability discussions and trials 3 years ago and gained important insights that will help create and refine industry standards under the guidance of MEF. The transformation of networks to a dynamic, on-demand, software-centric, cloud-based model opens up opportunities for everyone.”
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of a long journey. This project started as a proof of concept (PoC,) and it is incredibly exciting to reach this stage,” added Mirko Voltolini, head of Network On Demand, Colt. “We are proud to have been part of this process from the beginning. With the adoption of LSO Sonata APIs in our production network, we are improving efficiencies, reducing manual processes, and helping to improve how we all work together as an industry.”
“We are thrilled with the strong and growing industry support for LSO Sonata APIs for inter-provider service automation,” said Nan Chen, president, MEF. “MEF especially appreciates the pioneering efforts of AT&T and Colt to implement LSO Sonata APIs in production environments. We couldn’t be more excited to see the creation and growth of this ecosystem that will support dynamic service automation moving forward.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.