SmartSky Networks selected Brocade and VMware to supply the pre-certified network functions virtualization (NFV) capability for its air-to-ground broadband network. SmartSky's new Air-to-Ground, pan-US network network connects more than 250 cell sites strategically placed across the continental U.S.
SmartSky is deploying the Brocade Virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) running on VMware vCloud NFV. The network will deliver differentiated services for different types of customers.
“We are building SmartSky’s network from the ground up, enabling us to rethink how a cross-continental air-to-ground network such as this should be built,” said David Claassen, Vice President of Network and Service Architecture at SmartSky. “As we worked through the design, it became clear that using an NFV approach and leveraging commodity hardware for the underlying physical fabric would deliver the best ROI while increasing our service-ability and reducing many of the operational headaches common with traditional hardware-based networks. Brocade and VMware are delivering a combined NFV solution that will help us accelerate our delivery of this unique service offering.”
Brocade said its full-function vEPC features independent slices of control, data and session management capabilities. The vEPC provides seamless data service across the continent while eliminating redundant functionalities and internode dependencies.
“Brocade and VMware have collaborated for years as NFV partners, driving performance, scalability and life-cycle management for network functions to customers such as SmartSky,” said Nishi Kant, vice president of mobile networking, Brocade. “Stability, ease of deployment and ongoing management of the Brocade vEPC solution are recurring themes in our customer deployments, and certification of the Brocade vEPC as VMware Ready for NFV gives customers confidence in the interoperability of our NFV platforms.”
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