Where in your network are you feeling the pressure?
Next-generation metro and edge networks are comprised of key technologies and architecture approaches to address specific use cases that are critical to your business. Use this interactive tool to explore why traditional approaches to these architectures need to evolve—and how.
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Metro
What's your key challenge?
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Converged IP/Optical
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There’s a growing desire to achieve a converged IP/Optical end-state that is simple, agile, and cost-effective, with the ability to easily scale to support exponential increases in service endpoints and bandwidth demand. But a one-size-fits-all approach to achieve this end-state isn’t feasible, as a successful architecture evolution must first start with your unique network reality. Ciena’s approach to IP/Optical convergence is grounded in the Adaptive Network™ vision and starts with Adaptive IP™—an automated, open, and lean way of delivering IP differently, combined with WaveLogic™ 5 coherent optics that can be use case optimized to match specific network requirements. Ciena’s intelligent, self-configurable photonic underlay enables flexible management of IP traffic flows while Ciena’s Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) and Blue Planet® software provide intelligent network control to simplify and automate multi-layer and multi-vendor operations using an open, cloud native approach. And Ciena’s professional services team can guide you through every step of your network evolution to ensure success.
METRO
Converged IP/Optical for Metro
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Future Mode of Operation
A key challenge of current metro and edge networks is their static design with separate access and aggregation networks originally built to support different applications, service types, and SLAs. Additionally, traffic flows are fixed—moving from the access to the metro in a traditional hub-and-spoke configuration—with all services entering the metro, regardless of their actual end destination. These network designs face challenges in accommodating new cloud on-ramps closer to end-users in the aggregation and access network. Plus, a lack of operational automation and hardware programmability restricts the ability to flexibly move traffic flows at the right layers for optimized asset utilization. A network evolution that modernizes existing assets with the latest in technology innovation to address new and higher capacity traffic patterns is required.
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Current Mode of Operation
There’s a surge of new services, content, and applications being created and consumed at the network edge by both business and residential consumers. This is driving new and unpredictable traffic patterns across access and aggregation networks—and metro networks must absorb this traffic. As a result, Communications Service Providers (CSPs) must find a way to rapidly and cost-effectively scale metro networks to address surges in bandwidth demand and deliver a faster time to market for new services. To achieve this, many providers are considering converging their IP and optical layers. In fact, according to a recent study, 87 percent of providers view IP/Optical convergence as important for their next-generation networks.*
providers view IP/Optical convergence as important for their next-generation networks.*
*IP Optical Convergence Global Survey, Heavy Reading, May 2021, n=220
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Universal aggregation converges separate access networks to support services through a common infrastructure
Ethernet VPN (single service) and Segment Routing (single transport) provide simplified, end-to-end service delivery—evolving access and aggregation networks away from Layer 2 to Layer 3 infrastructure
Routers with high performance pluggables, an optical layer for OTN and wavelength services, and an intelligent photonic underlay provide flexible, efficient connectivity to support both current and future demands
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market for new services. To achieve this, many providers are considering converging their IP and optical layers. In fact, according to a recent study,
edge cloud
Edge Cloud Data Center
On-Demand Wave Services for Edge Cloud Exchange
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With Ciena’s Adaptive Network™ approach, CSPs can leverage a flexible, scalable, and secure switched optical infrastructure using intelligent automation to provide an on-demand, high-capacity Edge Cloud wavelength service that can deliver enhanced SLA options. This pay-as-you-go solution allows enterprises to quickly provision and schedule 100G/400G of capacity when and where they need it, between multiple metro data centers and with minimal CSP operational intervention. With dedicated on-demand, high-speed connectivity, large data transfers can occur in a matter of hours. Content providers can cost-effectively connect to their own sites and to enterprise customers across metro locations while large enterprises benefit from secure, reliable, low-latency multi-cloud access. This solution is fully supported by Ciena’s professional services team to ensure the success of any project.
There's a better way
Today’s connectivity to the cloud is typically over high-speed, non-dedicated connections over a shared IP infrastructure. The outcome is often high-latency, multi-cloud access that lacks scalability and agility, resulting in lengthy workload migrations between cloud providers requiring days to complete. As ICPs extend their cloud resources closer to the edge, they must cost-effectively connect their data centers to enterprise customers within a metro area where they lack data center real estate or fiber. Without an on-demand, scalable, dedicated, and secure cloud interconnection service provided by CSPs, enterprises’ ability to migrate toward an increasingly dynamic multi-cloud ecosystem is hindered. If left with no other option, ICPs will find a way to build out their own Edge Cloud exchange.
To become more agile and deliver higher quality customer experiences, enterprises are continuing to accelerate their shift to cloud IT services, especially across multiple cloud providers. For Internet Content Providers (ICPs), high-speed connectivity between their clouds—and to their large enterprise customers—is more important than ever. They need to move massive amounts of data across clouds quickly, and to achieve this in hours—not days. Additionally, ICPs need a neutral party to facilitate the workload exchange much closer to end-users. Communications Service Providers (CSPs) can play a vital role in this cloud ecosystem by leveraging their optical network assets at the edge to deliver an innovative, pay-as-you-go, dynamic interconnect service to different cloud providers. This new on-demand high-capacity cloud exchange offering increases competitive differentiation and unlocks new revenue opportunities with content providers and enterprises seeking high-capacity, multi-cloud connectivity.
Ciena believes in taking the Adaptive Network approach to the edge data center, which converges as many as 50 percent of the network layers of a traditional data center architecture by consolidating functions into the edge data center fabric. While successfully addressing stricter space and power requirements of this new class of data center, this converged, lean, and open approach also enables data-driven automated orchestration and management of both network and cloud resources at the edge.
Edge Cloud
Edge data centers don’t have the same luxury of space and power as their traditional centralized counterparts, which may house tens of thousands of servers with as many as eight layers of network equipment. Smaller edge data centers are required to house hundreds of servers and must converge their network layers to successfully meet much stricter space and power requirements. With three to five times as many data centers forecasted to be deployed at the edge than the core today, automating both cloud and network resources across these many edge locations is expected to be a challenge. Simply put, applying a traditional centralized data center approach to the edge won’t address the stringent space, power, and service orchestration requirements.
*Source: Mobile Experts, “Edge Computing for Enterprises”, July 2019
Provides dedicated, high-speed, multi-cloud connectivity with industry-leading programmable coherent optics that scale up to 800G to accommodate large data migrations in hours versus days
Agile, ROADM-based optically-switched infrastructure enables flexible any-to-any 100G/400G connectivity between multiple data centers across a CSP’s metro network
Leverages a pay-as-you-go approach that allows ICPs and enterprises to control the capacity and connectivity they need—paying only for what they use
Open network interfaces and APIs accelerate the automation, orchestration, and deployment of end-to-end edge services that are composed of both network and cloud resources
Data center space, power, and complexity is reduced by up to 50 percent by converging network layers to consolidate network functions into a converged spine-leaf network fabric
Dedicated optical transponders converged into the spine-leaf network fabric using pluggable 400ZR coherent optics to achieve scalability and to meet strict space and power requirements
The end-user experience is being redefined by a new generation of applications and services, which demand low-latency performance of less than 20 milliseconds. Examples include robotics for smart factories and highly immersive cloud gaming. It’s expected that revenues from these emerging applications will grow by more than 40 percent CAGR to over $5B in 2024.* Hosting these applications in the centralized cloud simply does not meet the required level of performance. Cloud resources for these latency-sensitive applications and use cases must be located physically closer to end-users, both humans and machines, at the network edge.
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BUSINESS
Private 5G
Multi-Service Virtualized Edge
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Private 5G delivers the wireless network performance that new applications require alongside 5G’s robust end-to-end security framework to protect mission-critical applications. It’s natively mobile and scalable for vastly improved coverage, device density, and throughput. When combined with Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), 5G’s Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) capabilities can also support even the most demanding latency-sensitive applications. Deploying a Private 5G network lays the foundation for an evolving enterprise automation journey providing an improved business outcome. Ciena believes the key to a successful Private 5G network is taking the Adaptive Network™ approach. This includes a programmable xHaul network with the required edge-cloud fabric, and the automation capabilities to support Network Slicing for SLA-sensitive applications. Within a broad Private 5G ecosystem, these capabilities must be augmented with the right RAN and systems integration partners.
The traditional approach to private wireless networks is to deploy WiFi to connect people and things within confined areas. However, as applications evolve and get more sophisticated, WiFi is simply unable to deliver on many key requirements, including security, latency, reliability, mobility, scalability, indoor/outdoor wide-area coverage, and QoS assurance. As enterprises seek to support both IT and Operational Technology (OT) domain applications, they need a robust private wireless network that can address a new wave of increasingly demanding applications.
rivate 5G
Across industry verticals, enterprises are radically and rapidly transforming with the convergence of AI, AR/VR, robotics, unmanned vehicles, analytics, and sensors that together take full advantage of data-driven automation for improved operational efficiency. This requires a flexible wireless network that provides mobility, security, low latency, and coverage—all while delivering a high and guaranteed QoS. Private 5G networks can address all of these requirements to facilitate a new level of enterprise digital transformation. The adoption of Private 5G and 4G/LTE networks is happening now with 700-900 ongoing projects as of 2020.*
*Source: Mobile Experts, “Private LTE and 5G Annual Market Study”, 2021
Ciena takes the Adaptive Network™ approach to enabling a multi-service virtualize edge. The Ciena Virtualized Edge Solution consolidates multiple network devices and application servers into a single universal edge device combining a network switch with an x86 server. This provides a single, highly programmable platform providing virtual instances of network functions and business applications. This universal edge device also supports virtualized SD-WAN, which enables more efficient and cost-effective connectivity options. Our Blue Planet® analytics and end-to-end service management automation solutions enable IT staff to perform maintenance and replacement remotely via software in a matter of hours versus months, significantly reducing operational expenses. To minimize the cost and complexity of implementing a virtualized edge, our Systems Integration Service can help with design, integration, testing, deployment, and provide full lifecycle management.
Enterprises are constantly adding branch locations and business applications. This means that each location has a cluttered telecom closet containing multiple network devices and application servers that must be powered and cooled. Most of them have different maintenance, upgrade, and replacement cycles as well. It can take months for IT staff to visit each location and perform these functions, which can significantly disrupt branch operations and lead to escalating costs. In addition, each location connects to a primary aggregation point that in turn connects to the internet or cloud. This configuration often degrades application performance to each branch.
Enterprises must continually seek to improve their competitive edge by increasing their operational agility, delivering a higher-quality customer experience, and reducing operational costs. As a result, enterprises are looking to accelerate their digital transformation by leveraging cloud-native and edge compute technologies to virtualize their branch network functions and business application. As most enterprises will pursue their virtualization journeys via managed services, this presents a significant growth opportunity for service providers to generate new and ongoing revenue streams. Analysts forecast that virtual network services demand will grow substantially from $11B in 2020 to $38B, by 2024*, providing new opportunities to bundle these offers with underlying wireline and wireless connectivity services.
*Source: Technology Business Research, “NFV/SDN Telecom Market Forecast 2019-2024”, October 2020
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Massive quantities of sensors and devices require a new wireless network that supports a much higher density of connections and endpoints.
Autonomous guided vehicles require intelligent automation and coordination enabled by reliable, low-latency wireless connectivity
Campus, mining, ports, and transportation use cases take automation outdoors and require wider wireless coverage with high reliability and security
Situating data centers much closer to the enterprise edge enables service providers to meet the growing demand for low-latency access to compute and cloud resources
Virtualizing branch network functions and enterprise applications reduces operational expenses while increasing business agility by avoiding static hardware-centric network designs
SD-WAN provides a powerful platform providing multiple physical connectivity options for direct internet and cloud access—delivering increased flexibility, reliability, and availability
MOBILE
4G/5G Converged xHaul
By leveraging a highly centralized, virtualized, and open RAN architecture, a simpler yet more agile network is achieved. The complexity of fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul transport networks interconnecting RAN elements can also be reduced with open, purpose-built routers that converge 4G/LTE and 5G xHaul transport traffic onto a common, programmable infrastructure with support for hard and soft Network Slicing. This allows operators to rapidly provide highly differentiated services to support new 5G applications. Ciena’s 5G Network Solutions help operators take the Adaptive Network™ approach to evolving their mobile networks. Ciena’s converged 4G/5G xHaul routers leverage automated, open, and lean Adaptive IP™, providing a programmable infrastructure with high port density. Ciena’s multi-vendor intelligent automation capabilities simplify operations to quickly introduce new SLA-based end-to-end services via hard and soft Network Slicing. These capabilities are augmented with Ciena’s professional services that guide operators along their unique 4G-to-5G journey—from conception to deployment to ongoing management.
Traditional mobile network architectures have been closed, proprietary, and distributed resulting in vendor lock-in that hinders both innovation and competition. Physical Baseband Units (BBU) sitting at the base of every cell tower make it costly and slow to densify and scale the network. It also limits the coordination of resources required for ongoing service performance optimization. To support the 5G evolution, operators must move toward an open, best-of-breed network design that increasingly centralizes the RAN and leverages data-driven automation to more easily and intelligently manage the end-to-end mobile network for optimal performance.
Investment in 5G deployments is accelerating, as mobile and wholesale network operators look to the new wireless generation to help them compete for new customers while increasing the satisfaction of their highest value end-users. Well over 400 operators are already investing in 5G networks globally.* To ensure a profitable 5G business case, operators must leverage their legacy 4G/LTE assets while steadily advancing towards a centralized, virtualized, and open RAN-based architecture. This will ensure improved service agility and performance while reducing overall costs.
New standards-based 4G/5G fronthaul connects radios to DUs via high-capacity, low-latency xHaul transport networks—leveraging network slicing routers supporting CPRI/RoE, O-RAN/eCPRI, TSN, and timing/synchronization
New xHaul routers converging a mix of 4G and 5G fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul transport networks to support simplified D-RAN and C-RAN architectures
Centralized and virtualized DUs and CUs pool the radio intelligence for improved agility and performance at lower costs
*Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), “5G Market Snapshot”, April 2021
Residential
Evolution to Distributed Access Architectures
Universal Aggregation for Residential Services
Service providers must evolve to a converged network infrastructure and leverage universal aggregation to cost-effectively enable multiple, concurrent services. Ciena believes the Adaptive Network™ approach is required to achieve this. To implement a future-proof, cost-effective residential connectivity solution, service providers must be able to converge different residential, business, and mobile network traffic over a common, programmable infrastructure. This infrastructure must support 10G Passive Optical Networks (PON) now—with the ability to evolve to 25G PON. Advanced domain control, real-time analytics, and an accurate inventory of all network resources are also fundamental to ensuring providers are able to meet the ever-changing demands of the residential market.
The historical approach of building different networks for different services limits the ability for providers to cost-effectively scale and quickly implement new capabilities. On the access side, legacy technologies, like xDSL, won’t evolve enough to support the high-performance requirements of new services. And copper-based technologies, such as xDSL or HFC, are also expensive to deploy and scale, profoundly affecting a service provider’s ability to stay competitive. Furthermore, traditional network implementations have also been highly manual and static, resulting in more complex network operations that greatly hinder the operator’s ability to react to ever-evolving customer demands.
Residential connectivity requirements are evolving to support end users increasingly doing more from home—learning, playing, and working. These requirements include new levels of network speed, performance, and quality of experience, all at a highly competitive price. In fact, the residential broadband market is set to explode with 9% growth (CAGR) in revenue from 2020 to 2027*. Service providers have the opportunity to capture their share of this growth by evolving their networks to cost-effectively expand their service portfolio, capture new customers, and increase the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).
*Source: Grand View Research, “Broadband Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Broadband Connection”, May 2020, https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/broadband-services-market
To achieve the required network performance end-users expect, Cable MSOs must move fiber deeper into the network and closer to homes by implementing a Converged Interconnect Network (CIN) based on a Distributed Access Architecture (DAA). At the same time, they’re investing in 10G Passive Optical Network (PON) technology in select areas while looking to increase their enterprise and wholesale businesses. Having a common infrastructure that supports Ethernet, IP, PON, and coherent optics is paramount to remain competitive. Ciena’s CIN solution takes the Adaptive Network™ approach combining high-density aggregation platforms and integrated coherent optics with the benefits of software automation and professional services to extend fiber deeper into their networks, while providing a common, highly cost-effective infrastructure for all services.
Today, Cable MSOs have highly centralized networks that are based on dated analog optics and Radio Frequency (RF) technology from a very limited number of equipment vendors. The existing outside plant architecture is also very complex with a high number of amplifiers and power connections, creating multiple points of weakness that can reduce service reliability and lead to frequent service outages. Operating these siloed networks is often manual and highly error-prone, making them quite expensive to deploy, operate, and maintain. As a result, these networks often lack scalability and agility making it very challenging for Cable MSOs to maintain pace with constantly evolving customer demands.
As people are increasingly doing more from home, there’s a significant growth in the number of residential users and their multitude of connected devices. This creates a lucrative opportunity related to addressing the demand for more network bandwidth and higher performance to support new applications and use cases. End-users will abandon service providers that can’t offer the quality of network experience they desire in favor of those that can—Cable MSOs should consider evolving their infrastructure to stay ahead of the demand curve.
XGS-PON provides symmetrical 10 Gb/s connectivity over shared optical fiber for a simpler, converged network capable of addressing new and higher residential network performance demands
XGS-PON μOLT plugs allow operators to provide high-capacity residential services in a more flexible, cost-effective pay-as-you-go business model
Universal aggregation-based FTTH service delivery enables operators to offer multiple services over dedicated or shared fiber for a simpler design to reduce complexity, power, and space requirements
DAA enables Cable MSOs to cost-effectively evolve and broaden their service portfolio by taking advantage of the existing residential HFC capillary network
DAA provides ten times more capacity, enabling Cable MSOs to offer 10 Gb/s everywhere to address the new demands associated with increased reliance on high-performance residential connectivity
Coherent-optimized open line systems in the Cable MSO CIN offer required reach and scalability while minimizing operational complexity and costs
