HP and NEC are collaborating to accelerate communications service provider (CSP) adoption of network functions virtualization (NFV) technology.
The combination of the HP OpenNFV Platform with NEC's virtualized network functions and management systems will provide CSPs with robust carrier-grade, open source-based NFV solutions.
When fully integrated, NEC will be able to offer its virtual network functions on the HP OpenNFV Platform, including HP Helion OpenStack Carrier Grade, providing a pre-validated solution that promises the reliability, scalability and performance CSPs require.
Pre-validation will include proof-of-concept testing to verify NEC's virtual network functions integrate properly with HP industry standard infrastructure products.
The resulting offering will feature an open architecture aligned with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute NFV Industry Specification Group (ETSI NFV ISG) Standard, allowing telecom operators the flexibility to scale or add new services.
"NFV technologies enable flexible, scalable, and operationally efficient service deployment that will transform conventional network operations," said Atsuo Kawamura, senior vice president of NEC.
The integrated offering will encompass HP hardware, including HP servers, networking and storage products. Availability is targeted for later this year.
Additionally, the companies plan to develop a joint NFV reference platform to demonstrate NEC virtual network functions and management software on HP OpenNFV infrastructure in OpenStack and Linux KVM environments.