Cloud-based networking software company DriveNets has confirmed it has supplied its Network Cloud platform to AT&T for software-based core routing capabilities. The software runs on white-box hardware from such ODM partners as UfiSpace (see “AT&T shows off Ufi Space white box cell site gateway router based on OCP specifications”).
AT&T has long championed the use of open source, disaggregated platforms in its network and has contributed multiple designs to the Open Compute Project (see, for example, “AT&T submits white box cell site gateway router specs to Open Compute Project” and “AT&T opens 400-Gbps fiber-optic link from Dallas to Atlanta using white-box hardware”). The Tier 1 service provider recently revealed its use of DriveNets Network Cloud at an open networking event. “I’m proud to announce today that we have now deployed a next-gen IP/MPLS core routing platform into our production network based on the open hardware designs we submitted to OCP last fall,” said Andre Fuetsch, AT&T’s CTO of Network Services, in his keynote speech at the Open Networking and Edge Summit (ONES). “We chose DriveNets, a disruptive supplier, to provide the network operating system (NOS) software for this core use case.”
DriveNets Network Cloud is cloud-native software platform that enables a physical network to operate as a shared resource that supports multiple network services in the most efficient way, says DriveNets. The software runs over scalable physical clusters ranging from 4 Tbps (single box) to 768 Tbps (large cluster of 192 boxes), acting as a single router entity (see "DriveNets announces white box, chip partners for Network Cloud and Distributed Disaggregated Chassis").
“We’re thrilled about this opportunity to work with AT&T on their next gen core network, and proud of our engineers for meeting AT&T’s rigorous certification process that field-prove the quality of our solution,” said Ido Susan, CEO of DriveNets. “This announcement demonstrates to those who questioned the disaggregated network model that our Network Cloud is more scalable and cost-efficient than traditional hardware-centric routers. DriveNets is transforming the network in the same way that VMware transformed the compute and storage industry.”
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