33 Carrier CORD deployments can be accelerated by System Integrators and custom professional services, which are provided by companies like WWT (World Wide Technology) and Radisys. Typical services offered by these entities are as follows: \ ‘Reference’ Pod designs \ System-level experimentation, testing and design verification \ Switch, server/storage integration, and validation \ Custom software design/certification, development, and integration/support including system automation and monitoring \ Assessment of support network, remediation design and development \ Installation, on-site testing/certification, and decommissioning The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) is a user-driven nonprofit organization focused on promoting the adoption of software defined networking (SDN) through open standards development. ONF has defined a reference design, encapsulating a group of operators interested in an assembly of components to build a platform. Despite major development on the reference design of the projects, especially on the software side, Telco operators worldwide report they don’t have a grasp of the physical infrastructure requirements for CORD projects. Upgrading legacy CO infrastructure to data centerlike infrastructure is not straightforward and comes with unique challenges. Major questions from Telco operators regarding physical infrastructure: \ What kind of future-proof infrastructure is required? \ Are there any integrated platforms based on CORD reference architecture that can be easily and readily deployed? \ How do we reuse or monetize the saved space of central office? Currently, the ONF community consists of vendors that are focused on layer 2/3 infrastructure manufacturers (as in the OSI model) that are specifying the white box switches and routers, and system integrators that customize the reference design based on the customer’s needs. System integrators and local installation teams, share that there is missing information on the physical infrastructure (layer 0), including on what kind of cabling system should be used, as well as cabinet/rack solutions, AC-powered equipment, etc. Carriers/Operators are the major decision makers/drivers behind the CORD initiative. Companies like AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile, Verizon, NTT, Telefonica, and others are members of the ONF and are actively transitioning to CORD. Below are some of the physical infrastructure challenges that these carriers/operators are having to consider when moving to CORD: \ Differences in the infrastructure racks/cabinets and network cabling \ AC power and HVAC requirements \ Environmental and operational issues such as: building access, selling space and services, allowing customers to do their own installs Carriers/Operators System Integrators (SI) CORD ECOSYSTEM Open Networking Foundation (ONF) INSIGHT | Doing Business
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