Ericsson has launched an Open Platform for Network Functions Virtualization (OPNFV) certification program, which it says will create an environment to ensure NFV solutions and infrastructures are compatible with emerging NFV standards and the open-source OPNFV reference platform.
Multi-vendor interoperability is a key requirement for telecommunications, and Ericsson provides testing and verification services for both carriers and vendors around the world. By leveraging the existing multi-vendor and interoperability capabilities, Ericsson will make the program available from two lab facilities - one in the US and one in Europe - and globally via a distributed cloud environment.
Paolo Colella, VP and head of consulting and systems integration at Ericsson, said “The OPNFV certification program will certify vendors for compliance with the NFV standards being developed on the OPNFV reference platform. Ericsson is a firm believer in the potential that NFV holds for telecommunications, and this certification program is one of the concrete steps we are taking to hasten its adoption.”
OPNFV is a collaborative project hosted by The Linux Foundation in which the carrier and vendor communities are working together to advance the evolution of NFV and ensure consistency, performance and interoperability. Ericsson is a a platinum member of OPNFV.
OPNFV will be a carrier-grade, integrated, open source reference platform to allow operators to accelerate introduction of new products and services and reduce costs.