Softbank, which owns controlling interest in Sprint, said this week it will use Cisco’s SDN and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) technologies in its cloud VPN service.
The operator will deploy Cisco’s Network Services Orchestrator, based on technology from the Tail-f acquisition, to provision and service chain physical and virtual network elements. Softbank will also use Cisco’s new Virtual Topology System (VTS) for automating VXLAN provisioning through BGP-EVPN. Cisco says this enhanced architecture will reduce service provisioning time from weeks to minutes, and enable more flexibility in upgrading virtual network functions.
Software-controlled service chains steer traffic through the appropriate Layer 4-7 security functions based on flow, customer profile, service type or other characteristics. VTS will be used to “stitch dynamic service chains within the data center,” Cisco said.
SoftBank’s White Cloud SmartVPN uses physical and virtual elements from multiple vendors. It provides a self-service online portal to assist customers in selecting security policies and network services to support business requirements.
Separately, Cisco opened an Innovation Center in Berlin this week to showcase digital development, particularly on its Internet of Everything offerings. The focus at the new openBerlin Innovation Center is on manufacturing, logistics and transportation verticals.
Cisco intends to invest close to $30 million in the new site over the coming years. It is the ninth Innovation Center the company’s established worldwide.