ETSI Releases First NFV Specifications

ETSI published the first five specifications on Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV), which aims to simplify the roll-out of new network services, reduce deployment and operational costs and encourage innovation. These new specifications were produced in less than 10 months.

ETSI’s Industry Specification Group for Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV ISG) said this first release identifies a framework and terminology for NFV that will help the industry to channel its efforts towards fully interoperable NFV solutions. Early NFV deployments are already underway and are expected to accelerate during 2014-15.

The five published documents include four ETSI Group Specifications (GSs) designed to align understanding about NFV across the industry. They cover NFV use cases, requirements, the architectural framework, and terminology. The fifth GS defines a framework for co-ordinating and promoting public demonstrations of Proof of Concept (PoC) platforms illustrating key aspects of NFV. Its objective is to encourage the development of an open ecosystem by integrating components from different players.

Dr Prodip Sen of Verizon Communications, who is Chairman of ETSI’s NFV ISG, said:

“These publications provide important guidance to the industry on the requirements that should be the basis for future development of NFV technology. ETSI’s openness to all players means that we have been able to involve everyone and reach a broad consensus. The documents, and the PoC framework in particular, send a strong message that we want to encourage multi-party interoperability and the growth of an open ecosystem."

“We have been especially concerned not to impede progress with a protracted standardisation effort in NFV ISG. As a result, these initial specifications have been developed in record time – under 10 months of intensive work. This is a major achievement for the industry. We hope to maintain this momentum and produce additional guidance soon."

Work is continuing in NFV ISG to develop further guidance to industry, and more detailed specifications are scheduled for 2014. In addition, to avoid the duplication of effort and to minimise fragmentation amongst multiple standards development organisations, NFV ISG is undertaking a gap analysis to identify what additional work needs to be done, and which bodies are best placed to do it.

The published documents are available online.

http://www.etsi.org/nfv