Broadband Forum released two technical reports:
- TR-477 ‘Cloud CO Enhancement – Access Node Functional Disaggregation’ – specifies the necessary architecture, NF definitions, requirements, interfaces and protocols associated with the Disaggregated OLT (D-OLT) software component enabling the deployment of OLTs with disaggregated functionalities into a CloudCO architecture.
- MR-477 ‘Access Node Hardware Disaggregation’ – extends the principle of disaggregation between the control and user planes onto the Access Nodes themselves, e.g., an OLT in a fibre network. In effect, this disaggregates control and management plane functions from the Access Node so that these can become virtualized functions within the CloudCO.
Broadband Forum says the releases provide network operators with a migration path from one of their largest network investments – existing Access Nodes such as Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and Multi-Service Access Nodes (MSANs) – to a new disaggregated software-driven model approach.
“SDN-enabled Access Node disaggregation introduces new flexibility in the deployment of the management and control planes by supporting legacy investment and extending the principles of disaggregation, as well as using whitebox hardware and software solutions for future Access Node architecture,” said Bruno Cornaglia of Vodafone who also serves as a Broadband Forum SDN/NFV Work Area Director. “The latest standard will help network operators protect their investments, diversify the supply chain, and accelerate the transition to new physical layer access technologies. ”