Rostelecom has successfully completed a pilot project deploying a Software Defined Networking-based (SDN) Metro Ethernet solution built on switches provided by NoviFlow Inc. and DEPO Computers, managed by an SDN Controller provided by Brain4Net. During the project, active subscribers have been transferred to the new infrastructure which is now running live commercial traffic in Rostelecom’s network.

Brain4Net, a genuine SDN/NFV software vendor with broad technology partners ecosystem, DEPO Computers, a manufacturer of X86 networking and computing hardware, and NoviFlow™ Inc., a leading vendor of high-performance SDN Network Operating Systems (NOS), cybersecurity middleware and programmable network solutions, have combined forces to deliver a proven architecture to build resilient and fault-tolerant network fabrics based on white-box switches and SDN. The solution allows Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to automate the provisioning of Carrier Ethernet (CE) services (L2VPNs, Pseudo-wires, etc.) and assure customer traffic delivery from Access network to IP Service Edge, while enabling granular traffic control, Traffic Engineering, service insertion and analytics.

The joint solution, called B4N Carrier Ethernet Transport, was successfully tested in Rostelecom’s regional network, where it has demonstrated the high value of SDN technology in providing services in Metro Ethernet Networks (MEN).

Started in Orenburg in the autumn of 2017, the project hosts more than 2K live consumers, as well as a few hundred subscribers of IPTV services and corporate customers of VPN services that have been transferred to the SDN domain. The peak bandwidth measured were about 3Gbps. The key success criteria was correct delivery of existing services with compliance to customer SLAs.

The new network segment in Orenburg consists of two NoviFlow NS-2128 switches (Mellanox ip NP-5 NPU-based), that serve as Distribution Routers, and three DEPO Stream 4324XK switches (X86-based), that serve as Aggregation Routers. Management of this domain was under control of cluster of Brain4Net SDN Controllers (B4N Controller), installed on three X86 servers, provided by DEPO Computers.

The SDN domain has been under close monitoring of Rostelecom and Brain4Net Engineers in order to ensure the solution matched or exceeded key performance indicators (KPIs) of the existing network infrastructure. There were no unplanned service interruptions during the pilot, proving that modernization of infrastructure via SDN overlays can be implemented without negatively affecting subscriber services.

The pilot project also confirmed the high level of functional readiness of Brain4Net, DEPO and NoviFlow solution for use in production environment.  B4N Carrier Ethernet Transport helps CSP to reduce CAPEX by using merchant silicon switches from NoviFlow instead of costly and over-functional MPLS-routers, and reduces OPEX by automation of network service provisioning, end-to-end service management and unification of equipment.

The solution opens many new opportunities for Rostelecom – improved Time-to-Market for new services and Customer Retention Rate, extended services portfolio, and the ability to build an agile and adaptive network infrastructure.

“Implementation of innovative technology-oriented projects, including SDN, is the part of global technology strategy of Rostelecom. This pilot project is the first step towards SDN adoption in Rostelecom network”, – said Alexey Sapunov, Senior VP of Tech Infrastructure, Rostelecom PJSC.

“The numerous lab tests conducted by Rostelecom and our engineers, and subsequent pilot project, have proved the high-level of functional readiness of Brain4Net solution. The joint solution proposes a comprehensive SDN architecture based on open standards, that allow CSP to build service-oriented infrastructure, significantly reduce both CAPEX and OPEX, while deliver a new level of automation to Metro Ethernet Network. Our technology approach helps CSP to build integrated network management system, including transport and service layers. The future work will involve functional development and integration with other Rostelecom services”, – said Max Kaminskiy, CEO of Brain4Net.

“As a part of the future work, we continue research and engineering works dedicated to integration of Brain4Net solution with the new switching platforms, including Broadcom ASICs and Barefoot. This allow us to extend the list of supported hardware and achieve even higher performance”, – said Dmitry Sakharchuk, Chief Architect, Rostelecom PJSC.

According to NoviFlow’s President and CEO, Dominique Jodoin: “NoviFlow is honored to have been selected by Rostelecom and proud to have collaborated with Brain4Net in the deployment of the Metro-SDN pilot project in the Volga region. This commercial deployment of NoviFlow’s NoviSwitch™ and NoviWare™ NOS is yet another demonstration of how NoviFlow’s new generation SDN switching platform can help CSPs such as Rostelecom to accelerate and scale SDN services in their networks, while reducing CAPEX and OPEX. Together, Brain4Net and NoviFlow are moving forward the use of innovative software defined technologies to expand CSP’s customer offerings and improve the economics of telecoms services”.

“A special feature of the successfully completed Metro SDN Pilot Project is the use of edge routers DEPO Stream 4324XK, which are specialized servers of x86 architecture developed and manufactured by DEPO”, – said Victor Urusov, Vise President of DEPO Computers. – “By using edge routers built on low-cost x86 servers instead of traditional architecture routers, a significant reduction in the cost of the solution was achieved”.

About Rostelecom PJSC

Rostelecom is the largest digital services provider in Russia. The Company operates in all segments of the telecommunications market and covers millions of households across the country.

Rostelecom is an indisputable leader of the broadband and pay-TV markets in Russia with over 13 million fixed-line broadband subscribers and over 10 million pay-TV subscribers, over 5.1 million of which are subscribed to Rostelecom IPTV services. In the six months of 2018, the Group generated RUB 153.6 billion of revenues, RUB 46.9 billion of OIBDA (30.5% of revenue) and RUB 7.0 billion of net income.

The Company is the indisputable market leader in providing telecommunications services to government bodies and corporates of all levels. Rostelecom is an important and recognised innovator in the field of E-Government, cloud computing, healthcare, education, security and housing & utility services.

For more information please visit https://www.company.rt.ru/en/

About Brain4Net

Established in March 2015, Brain4Net stands out as a genuine SDN/NFV software vendor with broad technology partners ecosystem. Company mission is to redefine network infrastructure and introduce agile, scalable and easy manageable networks to CSPs and Enterprises. Brain4Net helps them to adapt modern network technologies such SDN, SD-WAN, NFV and Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) within existent multi-vendor network infrastructure. Company believes that SDN, SD-WAN and NFV are the key components for Next Generation Networks.

B4N Service Platform, the flagship product of Brain4Net, provides comprehensive network Orchestration & Control solution for Multi-Vendor network infrastructure. This approach helps organizations bring agility to the network, improve network service chaining and reduce both CAPEX and OPEX for network infrastructure deployment and operations. For more information please visit www.brain4net.com

About NoviFlow™ Inc.

NoviFlow Inc. provides high-performance, commercial-grade programmable data plane and cybersecurity solutions including Network Operating Systems (NOS), complete switching systems and middleware solutions to network operators, data center operators and government agencies seeking greater control, security and flexibility over their networks. NoviFlow has offices in Montreal, Sunnyvale and Seattle, and representatives in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, please visit http://noviflow.com/. Follow NoviFlow on Twitter @NoviFlowInс.

About DEPO Computers

DEPO Computers is a leader of the Russian IT market in the field of building complex information and communication systems for government organizations and businesses. The company combines the deep expertise of a system integration in the field of IT-infrastructure, virtualization, engineering infrastructure and information security with its own Research and Development Center and large-scale production of computer equipment under the brand DEPO.

The company has many years of experience in the development, production, and implementation of comprehensive IT solutions for largest Russian commercial companies and government bodies. The company employs a quality management system that is fully compliant with the requirements of Russian standard GOST ISO 9001-2011.

DEPO Computers also runs its own Scientific Research Center and Center of Excellence for the design and implementation of integrated information systems. The company develops unique solutions tailored to each specific customer while employing Russian equipment bearing the DEPO trademark. For more information, please visit https://www.depo.ru

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