Layer123: Softbank Deploys Cisco Evolved Services Platform

Softbank is deploying Cisco's Evolved Services Platform (ESP) Orchestration, software defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologies to support its White Cloud SmartVPN.

The Softbank service offers enterprise customers a differentiated network service with a selection of multi-vendor networking equipment offerings. The White Cloud SDN creates software-controlled service chains in which traffic is steered through the appropriate security functions for a given flow, based on customer profile, service type or other parameter. A self-service online portal gives customers a simple way to select security policies and scalable network services associated with changes of business requirements.

Softbank is using Cisco's Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) enabled by Tail-f for the provisioning of both its physical and virtual elements.  Cisco said its enhanced architecture reduces the time to deployment for new enterprise services from weeks to minutes, while allowing for greater elasticity of customer demand by utilizing service chaining of new virtual network functions. Using strict, standardized YANG models for both services and devices, NSO automates all of the multi-vendor devices, making it easy to change and reconfigure services on-demand, without time-consuming and error-prone manual effort.

Softbank has also deployed Cisco’s Virtual Topology System to stitch the dynamic service chains within the data center.  The Cisco Virtual Topology System is a standards-based, open software-overlay management and provisioning system. It automates data center network fabric provisioning for virtual and physical infrastructure.

"Our new Cisco architecture has enabled us to dramatically increase our ability to provide highly responsive customer experience,” said Sadahiro Sato senior vice president of ICT innovation, Softbank. “The flexibility and open nature of the Cisco Evolved Services Platform will equip us with the tools to innovate new services at a rapid pace and keep ahead of our competition. Automation and elasticity on demand will also help us dramatically reduce both our operating and capital costs as we grow the offering.”

“We are delighted to partner with Softbank to unlock network innovation and accelerate service creation and deployment,” said Gee Rittenhouse senior vice president of cloud and virtualization, Cisco. “Softbank was able to leverage an open, modular multi-vendor architecture that suites its specific needs by utilizing Orchestration, NFV and SDN products from Cisco’s Evolved Services Platform. This new business solution is an exciting opportunity for Cisco to work with such an innovative and customer-centric service provider.”

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