Network Virtualization

Exploring the Evolution of the Mobile Network -
Applications, Benefits, Challenges and Trade-Offs

Keynote by:


When

January 19-21, 2015

Where

Hilton Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf, Germany

MORE HOTEL INFO >>

Register

Limited to 100 seats

First Registered, First Served!

Attendance open to Network Infrastructure, mmWave Thrusts or Full IWPC Members


Introduction

Software Defined Networking & Network Functions Virtualization claims to fundamentally change management & deployment of global mobile services. This workshop will assess current trials, proof of concepts and technology roadmaps. Global industry leaders and innovators will discuss and debate technology enablers and the path towards flexible, scalable and cost effective networks.

Workshop Goals

  • Assess the impact of NFV and SDN Deployments and Strategies on mobile network architectures and technologies
  • Engage with evolving global mobile network ecosystem
  • Report Consider ETSI initiatives, use-cases and specifications as well as current and planned proof of Concept activities
  • Identify opportunities, benefits and challenges for NFV
  • Assess state-of-the-art and explore evolutionary paths for backhaul and fronthaul capabilities

Agenda

DAY 1
January 19

Monday

19:00

Evening Reception

 

DAY 2
January 20

Tuesday

08:00

Opening Remarks

09:00

Carrier Keynote Remarks

  • How will mobile operators deploy NFV?

  • Examining the drivers for virtualizing the network?

  • How can we encourage multi-party interoperability and the growth of an open ecosystem?

  • Opportunities, challenges and trade-offs

Launching the Revolution - NFV in Vodafone Germany

Head, Network Evolution Concepts

10:00

Networking Break

 

10:40

Carrier Perspectives

  • How operations will be impacted by the introduction of NFV
  • What are the challenges
  • What are the risk and what are the opportunities from an operations point of view
  • Case-studies from trials and proof-of concept demonstrations - Use cases, success stories, pitfalls (what has been achieved so far)
  • DC Network Virtualization
    • From classical Ethernet switching to SDN Overlay
  • NFV Use Cases
    • From physical L3 CPE routers to a virtualized IP service (Internet Access & IP/MPLS VPN)
    • NFV RFI & Proof of Concept for Virtual L3 CPE, Virtual DC appliances ( FW, LB), Control plane functions (BGP Route Reflector)
  • WAN SDN
    • Vendor evaluation & customer research
    • L2/L3 Packet SDN prototype/PoC
    • MBH & other MNO use cases

NFV: Network Management Aspects, Operations and Issues around OSS Integration

Senior Program Manager

 

Deutsche Telekom

 

 

Opportunities and Challenges with NFV/SDN from a Mobile Operator's Perspective

Research Scientist

12:00 Noon

Networking Lunch

 

13:00

Carrier Perspectives (continued)

  • What are key challenges and learnings - impact on OSS systems?
  • How do operators prepare organizationally for virtualization (Operations, Engineering, new skillsets needed)
  • How do operators prepare/simplify the entire technology landscape before a large transition (virtualized chaos remains chaos!)
  • Does NFV really reduce cost, increase agility, and enable early development of new services?
  • With core network implementations already taking place, what are the bottlenecks to virtualizing transport networks and the RAN?

 

NFV and Mobile Core Networks

Senior Network Architect

 

 

SDN/NFV: Experience, Learnings & Future Plans

Senior Network Architect, Network Strategy & Architecture

colt

 

 

NFV: Network Management Aspects, Operations, and Issues around OSS Intergration

Head, Energy Efficiency Project

15:00

Networking Break

 

15:40

OEM Perspectives

  • NFV use cases, requirements, architectural frameworks and terminology
  • Can x86 platforms achieve carrier grade performance? (not is x86 "as good as" the specifically designed telco equipment but is it "good enough" to do the job?)
  • Do end to end virtualization platforms with proprietary features provide flexibility or even more vendor lock-in?
  • How does the industry ensure seamless and worry free integration and operation of different software and hardware elements - We are all aware of IT integration nightmares?
  • How can operators automate processes to reduce time to market and be more cost-efficient?
  • How can the industry open the vendor ecosystem to stimulate innovation and enable small players to add value?
  • Considering huge legacy investments in 4G, how do operators go virtual in a cost-effective way?
  • How will Virtualized Networks be "operationalized?"
  • Understanding the impact of virtualized and intelligent base stations
  • Challenges in virtualizing the EPC and opportunities for optimizing the EPC for virtualization
  • How complete are the ETSI specifications - what are the challenges as we enter the implementation phase??
  • Is NFV the only route to a 5th generation cellular network?
  • Virtualizing the Radio Access Network
    • Drivers, Architecture and Technologies to enable advanced 4G and 5G through virtualization of Base Station components and layers in accordance with NFV framework
    • Expanding NFV to the access and network Edge
    • The value of virtualization and centralization for Real-time SON
    • How to create and enable true open, multi-vendor platforms, avoiding vendor lock
    • Standardization opportunities and interfaces enabled by moving from appliance based to virtualization
  • NFV system architecture update (e.g. as defined by ITU, ETSI, and OpenStack type environments as proof of concept)
  • Defining "Agile" Standardization: interoperability challenges with defined standard implementations ( e.g. OpenStack and the like) vs. strict definition of interfaces

Introduction to ETSI Mobile Edge Computing

Senior specialist

nokia

 

 

Network Functions Virtualization: Standardization Status and Next Steps

Principal Strategist

 

17:00

End of Day Panel

 

Having heard operator perspectives and OEM viewpoints during the day, what have we learned and what do we want to hear from the disruptive players and technology innovators tomorrow?

Deutsche Telekom
colt

17:40

Adjourn for Day

 

18:30

Networking Dinner (Brauerei Zum Schiffchen)

Bus transportation provided to and from hotel

DAY 3
January 21

Wednesday

08:00

OEM Perspectives

  • Where are we on the hype cycle?
  • What is now being seen as important
    • The need to get to a DevOps model
  • The reality of N/W deployment
    • Web apps are easy
    • Critical apps not so much
  • Main hurdles and tradeoffs
    • Disaggregation/aggregation
    • Throughput/bare metal
  • Where to next?
  • Does NFV demand multi-party interoperability as a pre-requisite for success?
  • Exploring the role of open source in accelerating the NFV ecosystem
  • What needs to be done to encourage growth of an open ecosystem?
  • NFV network architecture - core-centric (data center based virtualization approach) vs. edge-centric (virtualized base station)
    • Opportunities, Benefits and trade-offs - which functions should /could go where, and resulting use cases
  • How can NFV be controlled/managed ((including non-repudiation, instantaneous OSS, monitoring virtualized instances, inventory)
  • How can network speed be maintained?
  • What are the options for resilience and scalability, impact on operational processes like capacity planning?
  • Trends in hypervisor technologies and possibilities of a truly "generic"/abstracted approach to hypervisors
  • How can NFV solve real-time challenges which are usually not met by standard Hypervisor?

Service Provider SDN - Abstraction and Granularity in Controlling Network Services

Chief Architect

 

 

 

Network Virtualization: first act - the plot thickens (the Reality of Today)

Director Engineering

cisco

 

 

 

Service POP with NFV
Automate - Scale - Create

Consulting Engineer

10:00

Networking Break

 

10:40

OEM Perspectives (continued)

  • Does NFV demand multi-party interoperability as a pre-requisite for success?
  • Exploring the role of open source in accelerating the NFV ecosystem
  • What needs to be done to encourage growth of an open ecosystem?
  • NFV network architecture - core-centric (data center based virtualization approach) vs. edge-centric (virtualized base station)
    • Opportunities, Benefits and trade-offs - which functions should /could go where, and resulting use cases

Network Virtualization and the WAN

VP & CTO

 

 

Software-Defined Telco - Considerations for Operationalizing NFV in Production

CTO Ambassador

 

12:00

Networking Lunch

 

13:00

Technology Enablers and Drivers

  • Is this just a software play?
  • What impact will virtualization have on the wireless eco-system?
  • Virtualizing Packet Processing & Switching Functions in Wireless Infrastructure
  • How will network function virtualization potentially simplify network deployment, associated challenges in packet processing and switching within networks?
  • What part do programmable virtual function based accelerators play in addressing emerging challenges?
  • How does RAN architecture evolve (towards 5G) and towards more centralized models?
    • Exploring base-station hoteling with centralized controllers to further improve RAN performance
  • What transport requirements do new architectures drive (eg higher bandwidth, lower latency, no/switching, routing, SDN support or transparency)
  • How will clusters of base-stations form a functional "cloud?"
  • What is the impact of centralized scheduling of resources, considering mixed fiber and other media environments?
  • Dynamically distributing function blocks to the very edge (spreading the "RNC" (eNB) functions into a cloud - where they are best suited)
  • The role of SON in virtualized and software defined networks
  • What are reasonable times for recomputing a cluster via SON vs. reconnecting a backhaul network via SDN
  • C-RAN, fronthaul - radio remote head to base band units
  • What are the alternatives to dark fiber with CPRI?
  • How many cells can be supported in a cloud
  • Can virtualization of base band unit versus virtualization
  • Benefits and trade-offs of coordination multipoint (COMB)
  • What is the relationship to SON?
  • Carriers will leverage both Remote Radio Heads and Small Cell Radio deployment strategies in an effort to increase radio coverage for 4G/LTE and emerging evolution to 5G
  • Proliferation of radios in the access creates a networking challenge of transporting the radio traffic to the location hosting centralized baseband processing
  • Technology needs (ie: how 4G/LTE to 5G transition influence proliferation of radio)
  • Compelling Economics behind Distributed vs. Centralized baseband processing
  • Phased approach:
    • Phase 1: Baseband Centralization
    • Phase 2: Baseband Virtualization
  • Overview of Critical Requirements for Fronthaul Network Planning
    • Must-Have Performance Requirements (Latency, Jitter, etc.)
    • Network Resiliency Requirements (OAM protection, etc.)
    • Network Operations Considerations (fiber efficiency, cost of ownership, leverage existing equipment/lifecycle)
  • How can high performance active safety be achieved in clutter limited environments?
  • Industry Trends Impacting Fronthaul Network Planning
    • Evolution of CPRI Rates
    • Evolution to Cloud-RAN with centralized baseband processing

Virtualizing all Layers of Base Station and Functions to Overcome Current Radio Access Networks Challenges

VP Products & Marketing

 

 

Mobile Fronthaul: the Key to C-RAN

Senior Product Manager

 

 

Road to SDN/NFV in Wireless - A Perspective

Senior Product Marketing Manager

xilinx

 

 

 

 

 

14:30

Networking Break

 

15:00

Service Assurance

  • What are the key gating factors for the successful introduction of NFV networks and services?
  • Assessing Network and Service Enablement solutions
  • Can NSE solutions operate in virtualized environments and operate autonomously and as part of the NFV operational equipment infrastructure?
  • Requirements for NFV-capable solutions, including learnings from NFV trials
  • NFV is a paradigm shift for network monitoring & testing what are these challenges?
  • Testing E2E performance, and interoperability of hybrid networks (mixing legacy and NFV islands of network)
  • Specific use cases for NFV network testing
  • New elements introduced by virtualization and the ETSI architecture
  • Proposed methods for validation of the new concepts
  • Provisioning and operational network continuous validation
  • Sharing of experience from Proof of Concept (PoC) tests

Challenges to Troubleshoot and Assure Partially Virtualized Networks

Wireless Advisor

exfo

 

NFV Success Dependent on a New Generation of Assurance Solutions

Product Marketing Manager

 

Performance Validation of a Virtualized Network

Senior Technical Product Manager, Mobility

ixia

16:30

CLOSING PANEL

  • Key take-aways
  • What have we learnt
  • What actions need to be taken to move the industry forwards?

 

Deutsche Telekom
 

17:40

Takeaways and Closing Remarks

 

18:00

 

Adjourn

 

19:00

Evening Reception

 

FAQs

  1. What is the deadline for presentation/handout materials?
  2. What can I do to prepare for speaking an at IWPC workshop?
  3. Who are the attendees?
  4. What are the costs/registrations fees?
  5. Hotel information?
  6. What are the travel options from the airport to the hotel?
  7. Are there any audiovisual requirements?
  8. Will business cards be collected?
  9. What is the dress code?
  10. How will handout materials be provided?
  1. What is the deadline for presentation/handout materials?

    Deadline for electronic version of presentation/handout materials: Friday, January 9, 2015.

  2. What can I do to prepare for speaking an at IWPC workshop?

    Click on the link below for a short video guide regarding preparing for and improving your IWPC presentation:

    Video: IWPC Speaker Guidelines

  3. Who are the attendees?
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    • We only permit "first hand knowledge experts" in business and technology issues, prepared to contribute to the discussion.
  4. What are the costs/registrations fees?

    ALL Hosts, Speakers, Panel Members and Attendees will be asked to cover out-of-pocket workshop costs such as conference room costs, food (Social Reception plus First Day breakfast/lunch/dinner plus Second Day breakfast/lunch plus Breaks), audio/visual costs, etc.

    These costs will be $870 (USD) per person. (For IWPC Members only.)

    ALL Hosts, Speakers, Panel Members and Attendees will be asked to pay this fee in advance with either Visa, MasterCard, American Express, cash, personal check or business check. Make checks payable to IWPC.

  5. Hotel information?

    Hilton Dusseldorf
    Georg-Glock Strasse 20,
    D-40474, Dusseldorf, Germany
    Phone: +49-221-43770
    Hotel Website

    Room Reservations can be made by email: [email protected] ; please mention 'IWPC' when you do so. The IWPC room block rate is 159 Euros.

    The cut-off date for reservations is Sunday, December 28, 2014. After that date, rooms cannot be guaranteed at the IWPC rate.

  6. What are the travel options from the airport to the hotel?

    Directions and transportation options will be posted as soon as possible.

  7. Are there any audiovisual requirements?

    A Computer Projector will be available for the speakers.

    In addition, we audiotape all presentations and the interactive discussions. Post workshop, presentations are made available to IWPC Members on the IWPC WEB site, along with “recordings” of all presentations and panel sessions.

  8. Will business cards be collected?

    Business cards will be collected at the door from all attendees. We will make copies of these cards, which will be available to all who provided a business card.

  9. What is the dress code?

    Business casual suggested. No ties, please!

  10. How will handout materials be provided?

    For ALL IWPC members:

    All IWPC members are invited to submit materials to be included in the online workshop folder in the IWPC Research Library. This should NOT BE SALES MATERIALS. Rather, we suggest it contain technical information about your technology as it relates to the workshop topics.

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