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The adaptive network includes three inter-
related layers: Programmable infrastructure,
analytics and intelligence, and software
control and automation.
Programmable infrastructure
The programmable infrastructure layer
features the network’s physical and virtual
elements, in addition to the associated data.
This layer can interpret that data enabling
the network to make autonomous decisions,
which could be anything from routing
traffic around a malfunctioning circuit or
investigating and correcting an issue with
latency or lower-than-expected capacity on
a specific link.
This programmable infrastructure requires
a flexible grid; a reconfigurable photonic
layer to give the ability to reroute channels
of variable spectral occupancy across any
path, and across any optical spectrum in the
network; and telemetry from the IP layer
correlated with routing data.
In addition, a programmable infrastructure
needs tunable coherent transponders to
efficiently map a flexible number of client
signals to the variable line capacity. In turn,
that requires a centralised purpose-built
Optical Transport Network (OTN) or packet
switching architecture.
Analytics and intelligence
As providers face an explosion of data
and demand across their networks, the
implications may seem complex. But these
challenges also have their benefits, as they
grant providers access to a growing wealth
of information that, if harnessed effectively,
can help them make better decisions to
optimise their network performance and
deliver a better customer experience.
Having easy access to all the information
needed to accurately plan and optimise
network resources can help providers meet
both current and future demand, enabling
them to anticipate potential network and
service disruptions before they even happen,
and even allow them to dynamically adjust
network bandwidth requirements based on
their customers’ needs. These may seem like
impossible tasks, but as networks evolve, such
data-driven decision-making will become the
table stakes of network providers’ survival.
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INTELLIGENTCIO
“
OPENNESS IS
CRITICAL IN
THE ADAPTIVE
NETWORK TO
ALLOW NETWORK
PROVIDERS
CHOICES IN THE
PRODUCTS AND
TECHNOLOGIES
THEY CAN DEPLOY
TO ENABLE
THEIR NETWORK
EVOLUTION.
When considering analytics, it should be
borne in mind that not all data is equal.
Some of it will be categorised as Big Data
that indicates trends that the network
learns and adjusts for over time. Big Data
can inform the network on how to adjust
in the long term, which traffic patterns to
look out for, and which parts of the network
could be vulnerable. Support Systems (OSSs) lack the scale and
flexibility to meet the requirements of
these more dynamic network technologies.
Simple automation techniques like custom
scripting are often used to reduce repetitive
manual tasks, but providers must look for
more robust automation capabilities to
reduce operational complexity and improve
efficiency at scale.
Then there’s small data – things that are
happening at a rapid pace. It could be a
flicker on a circuit or an immediate request
from a customer. Effective automation of network tasks, such
as loading access controllers and provisioning
routers, or automated calculation and
configuration of MPLS TE tunnels to optimise
traffic and relieve congestion, can eliminate
those errors and keep the network running at
peak performance.
Such events require a speedy response from
the network, and those moves will be made
by the analytics. But once the decisions
have been made, a human operator or pre-
defined policies could step in and approve
or change things as necessary. In a truly
autonomous network, there would be no
operator influence at this point.
Software control and automation
The operations environment for network
providers is growing increasingly complex.
While advancements like NFV and SDN
enable on-demand services, existing
network management and Operational
The ability for automation to work
across multiple vendors is critical. Some
technologies are good at working with one
set of devices from a single vendor, but few
networks are built on a single vendor’s gear.
Networks have to interoperate, using APIs, to
function efficiently and move data efficiently
and swiftly from point to point.
Realising the complete functionality of
this framework will take time; it will be an
evolution of the providers’ current network
environment. And getting there will be a
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