MEF: Standardized APIs drive automation between service providers

Service Providers are increasingly looking to standardized APIs as the most efficient means of automated inter-carrier business functions, according to a newly published report from MEF. 

MEF has developed standards-based Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) business process APIs and operational APIs that uniquely provide the high fidelity (tightly defined context), plug-and-play interoperability, and extensibility. The report primarily focuses on  MEF LSO Sonata APIs that automate business processes between service providers.

MEF’s proprietary research reveals 122+ service providers worldwide are now in some stage of the LSO Sonata adoption lifecycle, with at least 63 companies already in commit, plan, development, test, or production stages.

“Increasingly next-generation services like Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) solutions will be delivered across an ecosystem of many providers, from retail and wholesale service providers, to hyperscalers, to technology solution providers, and so on, and the networks supporting these services will be fully API-driven,” said Pascal Menezes, CTO, MEF. “For this to happen, standards-based automation is required throughout the entire supply chain where all parties adopt a common, standardized set of APIs at both the business process and operational levels.”

MEF’s inaugural State of the Industry report provides in-depth analysis of the current state of service delivery, and explores adoption trends, challenges, and integration with additional new technologies such as blockchain and intent-based networking. The report draws attention to the paradigm shift taking place in the communications industry as more companies embrace automation to streamline their business functions, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate time to revenue. Areas where automation can provide significant benefits are identified within the report, including customer service, billing and settlement, and supply chain management.

Key findings show that service providers implementing standardized business APIs can:

• realize an average 25% reduction in order cycle times,
• speed time to revenue for each MEF Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) API-enabled order,
• boost revenue opportunities by becoming a preferred partner,
• implement multiple LSO APIs in as little as 3-5 months with the help of LSO solution providers.

“Enterprise requirements for cloud-like experiences are driving industry transformation to secure dynamic services across a global ecosystem of automated networks. Secure NaaS platforms, for example, are particularly reflective of this trend as they combine on-demand connectivity, application assurance, cybersecurity, and multi-cloud-based services,” said Stan Hubbard, Principal Analyst, MEF. “MEF research reveals that over 122 service providers worldwide are now in some stage of the LSO adoption lifecycle. With LSO Sonata APIs service providers can transition from manual processes and isolated islands of customized APIs to an open, interoperable standards model that enables plug-and-play reuse of APIs with any partner and service with minimal additional cost and effort.”

https://www.mef.net/news/new-mef-research-finds-plug-and-play-business-apis-transforming-dynamic-services-landscape/

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MEF issues first SASE standard and Zero Trust Framework

MEF published the first Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) standard defining SASE service attributes, a framework and common definitions, and a Zero Trust framework that together allow organizations to implement dynamic policy-based actions to secure network resources for faster decision making and implementation for enterprises.

• SASE Service Attributes and Service Framework Standard -- This standard specifies service attributes to be agreed upon between a service provider and a subscriber for SASE services, including security functions, policies, and connectivity services. The standard defines the behaviors of the SASE service that are externally visible to the subscriber irrespective of the implementation of the service. A SASE service based upon the framework defined in the standard enables secure access and secure connectivity of users, devices, or applications to resources for the subscriber. MEF’s SASE standard (MEF 117) includes SASE service attributes and a SASE service framework.
• Zero Trust Framework for MEF Services --The new Zero Trust Framework for MEF Services (MEF 118) defines a framework and requirements of identity, authentication, policy management, and access control processes that are continuously and properly constituted, protected, and free from vulnerabilities when implemented and deployed. This framework also defines service attributes, which are agreed between a subscriber and service provider, to enable service providers to implement and deliver a broad range of services that comply with Zero Trust principles.

MEF said its new SASE standard aligns stakeholders on common terminology and service attributes when buying, selling, and delivering SASE services, and makes it easier to interface policy with security functions for cloud-based cybersecurity from anywhere. MEF’s Zero Trust framework defines service attributes to enable service providers to implement and deliver a broad range of services that comply with Zero Trust principles.

“Enterprises are challenged to compare feature sets and solutions when selecting SD-WAN, SSE, and SASE services, including Zero Trust Network Access, which can result in incomplete service offerings that don’t meet needs and expectations. At the same time, service providers want to offer a complete, unified SASE service that includes networking and security under a single pane of glass,” said Pascal Menezes, MEF Chief Technology Officer. 

According to the July 2022 SASE & SD-WAN 5-Year Forecast Report from Dell’Oro Group, the SASE-related technologies market will exceed $13 billion by 2026. SASE has quickly gained traction due to its work-from-anywhere cloud approach to security and networking. The MEF SASE service standard and Zero Trust framework have been developed by the industry’s top managed security and service providers to make it easier to bring to market robust, easy-to-understand, easy-to-manage SASE services for the enterprise. The new standards include:

“With SASE still at an early stage and generating confusion, I applaud MEF’s standardization efforts. In the near-term, they are contributing vocabulary and aligning conceptual frameworks that are vital to getting the industry to rally behind common, interoperable approaches,” said Mauricio Sanchez, Research Director for Network Security & SASE/SD-WAN research at Dell’Oro Group. “In the long-term, I see the resulting standards help make multi-vendor SASE a reality and accelerate overall adoption.”

https://www.mef.net/news/mef-introduces-first-sase-standard-and-zero-trust-framework/

Video: Standardizing SD-WAN and (soon) SASE

Sunday, August 07, 2022  MEF, SD-WAN, Spirent, Video  

SD-WAN evolved independently with a number of big players and, as a result, all of their solutions are different, notes Dave Larson, GM and CTO of Spirent.SASE, as an extension of SD-WAN, brings a new set of monetization possibilities.MEF is about using standards and APIs to level of playing field.https://youtu.be/wwWMah7y...

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Sparkle: Expanding Global Enterprise Services

Sparkle, a global service provider with an extensive fiber optic backbone, is rapidly expanding its reach across five domains: IP&Data, Cloud & Data Center, Enterprise, Mobile, Voice.

Enterprise connectivity services are now being transformed by digitalization and the cloud.

In this video, Antonella Sanguineti, Head of Product Management Secure Cloud & Networking Solutions, Sparkle, discusses how enterprises are changing the way they consume connectivity services.

https://youtu.be/g1zmEIpAmi8

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Zayo launches API developer portal and rolls out MEF LSO Sonata

 Zayo introduced its Application Programming Interface (API) Developer Portal to help enterprise customers to explore, on-board and test live environments with existing API offerings, and stay informed about upcoming developments.

Currently, Zayo receives hundreds of thousands API calls a month originating from 100+ customers. These requests come through key partners such as Connectbase, ACS Solutions, GeoTel, Upstack, NDA Corp, Masterstream and LMX as well as direct integrations. Benefits of Zayo’s existing API offerings include:

• Network Discovery: Zayo’s Building Validation, Location, and Cloud Service Provider APIs enable customers to analyze how Zayo’s network availability powers their business footprint.
• Quote and Order: Customers can grow their business capabilities by leveraging Zayo products in its Product Catalog API, generating quotes with the Quote API, and automating the ordering process through the Order API.
• Service Management: Customers are able to retrieve critical service information, get support for issues, and keep track of planned outages with the Service Inventory, Ticketing, Ticket Catalog and Maintenance Cases APIs.

In addition to the API developer portal, Zayo has started the roll out of MEF API “Lifecycle Service Orchestration” (LSO) Sonata “Billie” release for quoting and ordering as well as performance monitoring. Further incorporation of MEF standards will enable Zayo to better serve its global carrier and enterprise customers to buy services in a standardized way and to automate MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet.

“We want to empower our customers through every step of their digital transformation journey, and APIs are where that journey comes to life in the form of automation at our customers' fingertips,” said Leidy Perez, vice president of product, strategic software at Zayo. “With our developer portal, customers now have a live environment where they can easily find the information they need to understand, design and build the best software integration strategy to make an impact and drive business results.”

“Too often, customers must work around their system of record to manage multiple vendors. The swivel-chair of that information back into each system of record causes massive inefficiencies that can impact service delivery time and revenue,” said Stan Hubbard, MEF Principal Analyst. “MEF LSO APIs offer an automated, standardized way for service providers to buy and sell services and maximize return on their investment in interface development. We are excited that MEF LSO Sonata APIs enable Zayo’s innovative API Developer Portal.”

https://developer.zayo.com

https://developer.zayo.com/

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Video: Standardizing SD-WAN and (soon) SASE

SD-WAN evolved independently with a number of big players and, as a result, all of their solutions are different, notes Dave Larson, GM and CTO of Spirent.

SASE, as an extension of SD-WAN, brings a new set of monetization possibilities.

MEF is about using standards and APIs to level of playing field.

https://youtu.be/wwWMah7yeBE

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Video: Cirion's Principal Network Architect on Service Automation

 

https://youtu.be/LfD2XW2OJ5M

Cirion, the new spin-out international carrier that was previously the Latin American operations of Lumen Technologies, is engaged with MEF and other global operators, to automate its service activation. 

Jorge Brites, Principal Network Architect at Cirion, discusses service automation and MEF LSO APIs.

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Video: Streamlining Secure Business Transactions with MEF LSO APIs

https://youtu.be/GE4dlNnV8QE

Automation is the process of streamlining business interactions, explains Daniele Mancuso, SVP Chief Product Management, Sparkle, and Board Director of MEF. 

MEF has developed its Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) framework to promote this vision. The next step is to combine the LSO APIs with Blockchain.

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Video: Automation is the path to cloud-native network solutions

https://youtu.be/fbtvmPvQO0Q

Automation is key to enabling services across a global ecosystem of Service Providers, says Franck Morales, Vice President, Evolution Platform, Orange Business Services, and Director of MEF.

Here is a perspective on how this automation is developing within MEF and across the industry.

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Video: Blockchain and Smart Contracts for Billing and Settlement

https://youtu.be/jUd4Haz5E4A

MEF has made tremendous progress with its LSO APIs, streamlining the transfer of information between parties. The next step is to leverage blockchain to define smart contracts, explains Daniel Bar-Lev, VP Strategic Programs, MEF.

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Video: Automating Wholesale Ordering between Carriers

It really feels like the carriers are coming towards a tipping with regard to the adoption of MEF's LSO Sonata API for the automation of service provisioning, saysJohn Carr, Vice President of Business Development, Neustar.

Neustar is making the LSO interface a standard part of its product.

https://youtu.be/Xu4GhlKusYY

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Video: Traction for MEF LSO Sonata

MEF LSO Sonata APIs address the business-to-business layer of inter-provider buying and selling at the commercial level. So what market traction are we seeing in mid-2022?

Here is an update from Stan Hubbard, Principal Research Analyst, MEF.

https://youtu.be/WQ0RUC018_0

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MEF appoints AT&T and Verizon Executives to its Board

MEF announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors: Debika Bhattacharya, Chief Product Officer, Verizon Business, and John Nolan, Vice President, Global Connection Management, AT&T.

Bhattacharya and Nolan join MEF’s world-class board of directors who guide the advancement of the MEF baseline for LSO supply chain automation, MEF 3.0 standardized services, and test, training and certification, allowing service and technology providers and the enterprise to differentiate with on-demand, cloud-like experiences for their customers. Bhattacharya leads product management across all customer segments for Verizon Business and is responsible for the company’s product portfolio and its strategy and alignment with Verizon’s Network-as-a-Service framework. Nolan leads a team of professionals in more than 30 countries responsible for AT&T’s voice, data, international roaming, IoT, and performance relationships with other telecommunications providers in support of AT&T’s wireless and wireline businesses objectives around the world.

MEF Board of Directors:

• Debika Bhattacharya, Chief Product Officer, Verizon Business
• Nan Chen, Head of The One Network, Ericsson
• Frederick Chui, Chief Commercial Officer, PCCW Global
• Andrew Dugan, Chief Technology Officer, Lumen
• Shawn Hakl, Vice President, 5G Strategy, Microsoft
• Daniele Mancuso, Senior Vice President Chief Product Management, Sparkle
• Franck Morales, Vice President, Connectivity Services, Orange Business Services
• John Nolan, Vice President, Global Connection Management, AT&T
• Robert “Bob” Victor, Senior Vice President of Product Management, Comcast Business
• Mirko Voltolini, Vice President, Innovation, Colt Technology Services
• Jeremy Wubs, Senior Vice President, Product, Marketing and Professional Services for Bell Business Markets, Bell Canada

https://www.mef.net/news/att-and-verizon-executives-join-mef-board-of-directors/

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Tech Update: Market Traction for MEF LSO APIs

https://youtu.be/evRXR5HLXPs

MEF Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) is a reference architecture and framework for enabling end-to-end automation and orchestration, across multiple provider networks.  LSO defines the reference points between key functions within the service provider and extending out to the enterprise and the cloud. MEF standardizes these reference points, developing information models, business requirements and use cases, and data schemas, packaged within SDKs that enable developers to build open APIs to support each reference point. 

Here is an update from Michael Kearns, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer for Amartus and Co-Chair of MEF LSO Subcommittee, covering:

• What primary use cases are emerging for MEF LSO APIs by global Service Providers? 
• How are Service Providers leveraging LSO APIs to meet enterprise demand?
• Are we reaching a market inflection point for MEF LSO APIs?

More info on MEF LSO is here: https://www.mef.net/service-automation/lso-apis/

Get up to speed on SmartNICs by downloading our 2022 SmartNICs and Infrastructure Acceleration Report: https://ngi.how/ia-2022

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MEF opens LSO Marketplace

MEF announced the launch of the LSO Marketplace, a set of resources designed to accelerate the evaluation and implementation of MEF Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs for automating service provider and enterprise business transactions. 

MEF also announced availability of the Celine LSO API Framework release, which adds a new service provisioning developer guide and features such as incident management and security profiles.

The LSO Marketplace includes:

• LSO API Catalog – Includes API definitions, release information, developer guides, and test requirements
• LSO Payloads – Schemas for MEF standardized products and services that can be managed with the APIs
• Evaluation resources – Tools to help evaluate MEF APIs and build a business case for implementation
• Implementation support – Tools, programs, groups, and resources to help accelerate API implementation

MEF also announced Celine, the third in the series of LSO API Framework releases. Celine provides new trouble ticketing uses cases and adds service provisioning and API security profiles. MEF also released new developer guides, including the LSO API Security Profile, LSO Payload Handbook, and an example implementation of dynamic binding.

“Leading global service providers are implementing MEF LSO APIs because they offer an automated, standardized way for service providers to buy and sell services while maximizing return on their investment in interface development,” said Daniel Bar-Lev, Vice President Strategic Programs, MEF. “With the availability of the LSO Marketplace, along with ongoing enhancements to MEF’s LSO SDKs, implementation is simplified and deployment is accelerated. Service providers can connect with partners faster to quickly bring new services to market that offer competitive differentiation to customers, and ultimately lead to faster time to revenue.”

https://www.mef.net/news/mef-lso-marketplace-accelerates-service-provider-automation/

https://youtu.be/eohjDDL0Roc

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MEF publishes new SD-WAN standards

MEF published new SD-WAN standards that add critical enhancements, including new service capabilities for underlay connectivity, important application performance metrics, and security zones for service providers deploying SD-WAN managed services.

The new standards include:

• MEF 70.1 updates MEF 70, the industry’s first global SD-WAN standard, to include new service attributes for underlay connectivity services, new measurable performance metrics that provide visibility into an application’s performance within the provider network and across multiple service providers, and the infrastructure to support application-based security defined in MEF 88 (see below).
• MEF 88, MEF’s first security standard, enhances an SD-WAN service to add security functions. These include defining threats, malware protections, security policy terminology and attributes, and describing what actions a policy should take in response to certain threats.
• MEF 95 provides a unified policy framework for MEF’s SD-WAN (MEF 70.1), Network Slicing (MEF 84), and SASE (MEF W117) and Zero Trust (MEF W118) standards coming in 2022.

“We’re seeing a healthy uptick in SD-WAN deployments driven by work from anywhere, as more users are connecting to the cloud and cloud-based applications. We estimate the global SD-WAN service market will grow from $2.85B in 2020 to $14.5B in 2025 (CAGR of 38%),” said Roopa Honnachari, vice president of research & global program leader – network & edge services, Frost & Sullivan. “MEF’s work in standardizing and certifying SD-WAN managed services is helping to drive that adoption, and we believe certified services and professionals will continue to play an important role in moving the market forward.”

“MEF develops standards and certifications to provide clarity and assurance and remove complexity for SD-WAN managed services. The new standards define the service behavior and associated policy language needed to deliver high-performance, secure SD-WAN managed services,” said Pascal Menezes, CTO, MEF. “These standards, and the forthcoming SASE and Zero Trust standards, benefit both customers and providers—customers know what to expect when purchasing SD-WAN managed services from a provider, and providers have the tools needed to deliver secure SD-WAN services that drive customer satisfaction.”

MEF also announced that in 2022, secure SD-WAN requirements will be added to the MEF 3.0 certification program. To date, 17 companies have achieved MEF 3.0 SD-WAN certification. In addition, the MEF-SDCP Professional Certification training and certification provides an opportunity for the engineers, architects, product managers, and others deploying SD-WAN solutions to demonstrate their expertise in MEF 3.0 service standards. Worldwide, there are over 700 MEF-SDCP professionals employed by more than 120 companies.

https://www.mef.net/news/mef-introduces-new-standards-for-high-performance-secure-sd-wan-services/

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MEF elects 2021-2022 Board of Directors

MEF announced its 2021-2022 Board of Directors

• Nan Chen, Head of The One Network, Ericsson
• Frederick Chui, Chief Commercial Officer, PCCW Global
• Andrew Dugan, Chief Technology Officer, Lumen
• Shawn Hakl, Vice President, 5G Strategy, Microsoft
• Aamir Hussain, Chief Product Officer and Senior Vice President, Verizon Business Group
• Daniele Mancuso, Senior Vice President Chief Product Management, Sparkle
• Franck Morales, Vice President, Connectivity Services, Orange Business Services
• Rasesh Patel, Executive Vice President, Chief Product & Platform Officer, AT&T Business
• Robert “Bob” Victor, Senior Vice President of Product Management, Comcast Business
• Mirko Voltolini, Vice President, Innovation, Colt Technology Services
• Jeremy Wubs, Senior Vice President, Product, Marketing and Professional Services for Bell Business Markets, Bell Canada 

MEF Officers

• Nan Chen, President
• Aamir Hussain, Chairman
• Bob Victor, Treasurer
• Kevin Vachon, Chief Operating Officer
• Pascal Menezes, Chief Technology Officer
• Daniel Bar-Lev, Vice President, Strategic Programs

“We are extremely fortunate to have a world-class team of distinguished leaders on the MEF Board of Directors,” said Nan Chen, President, MEF. “For 20 years, MEF has been solving shared business challenges through industry collaboration. Our new Board brings deep industry expertise, insights, and fresh perspectives that will challenge and strengthen MEF’s ability to drive network transformation to power the digital economy. 

“I want to express my appreciation to outgoing board member and MEF Distinguished Fellow Ralph Santitoro, Head of Digital Services, Fujitsu Network Communications, for his important contributions in guiding MEF’s work in key strategic areas.”

https://www.mef.net/

 

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Windstream Enterprise Achieves MEF 3.0 SD-WAN Certification

Windstream Enterprise (WE) has achieved MEF 3.0 SD-WAN services certification for its Fortinet Secure-powered SD-WAN offering. Windstream Enterprise is the first managed service provider to complete multiple MEF SD-WAN certifications.

“Congratulations to Windstream Enterprise on its latest MEF 3.0 SD-WAN certification,” said Nan Chen, president of MEF. “Companies who purchase SD-WAN from a certified MEF 3.0 service provider can have confidence they will receive services that conform to MEF’s industry-leading global standards. Companies like Windstream Enterprise understand the value that certification provides—simplified, pre-validated functionality for buyers and simplified, frictionless implementation and partnering.”

“MEF 3.0 SD-WAN certification for Fortinet-powered SD-WAN indicates our commitment to delivering best-in-class SD-WAN and to improving the quality and management of Ethernet and IP services for our customers,” said Mike Frane, vice president of product management at Windstream Enterprise. “As demand for hybrid networking continues to grow, these MEF industry standards eliminate confusion regarding SD-WAN service components, core capabilities and concepts.”

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Windstream Enterprise gains MEF 3.0 SD-WAN Certification

Windstream Enterprise (WE) has attained MEF 3.0 SD-WAN services certification for its VMware-powered SD-WAN, validating conformance to the industry’s first global standard defining SD-WAN and its service attributes. This recognition from MEF entrusts Windstream Enterprise with shaping the direction and growth of the SD-WAN services market through industry standardization and certification of services, technologies and professionals.

“We congratulate Windstream Enterprise on its MEF 3.0 SD-WAN certification,” said Nan Chen, president of MEF. “End-users who purchase SD-WAN from a certified MEF 3.0 service provider can have confidence they will receive services that conform to MEF’s industry-leading global standard. MEF certification is an important step in advancing SD-WAN market growth and driving adoption of productivity-enhancing services and technologies that will progress digital transformation.”

The acknowledgment from MEF via this certification, performed by Spirent, assures that Windstream Enterprise customers are receiving an SD-WAN solution that meets the highest standard for maximum agility and integrity possible.

“We are proud to be recipients of MEF’s 3.0 SD-WAN services certification as resounding validation of Windstream Enterprise’s best-in-class SD-WAN offerings,” said Mike Frane, vice president of product management. “Industry standardization of SD-WAN is making it easier to integrate work across multiple types of underlying services. Ultimately, the combination of standardized and orchestrated overlay and underlay services will help deliver exceptional experiences, improved service capabilities and guaranteed resiliency to our customers.”

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AT&T's Mo Katibeh joins MEF Board

 Mo Katibeh, Chief Product & Platform Officer at AT&T Business, has joined the MEF Board of Directors, succeeding AT&T's Roman P. Pacewicz.  

As Katibeh joins the MEF Board of Directors, Roman P. Pacewicz, Chief Product Officer at AT&T Business, will step down. “Roman has been an integral member of our MEF Board and community. We thank him for his dedication and years of contribution in progressing MEF standards and goals that have made a significant positive impact on our industry,” said Nan Chen, President, MEF.

MEF Board of Directors

• Nan Chen, Head of The One Network, Ericsson
• Frederick Chui, Chief Commercial Officer, PCCW Global
• Andrew Dugan, Chief Technology Officer, Lumen
• Aamir Hussain, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Verizon
• Mo Katibeh, Chief Product & Platform Officer, AT&T Business
• Daniele Mancuso, Chief Marketing Solutions & Business Development Officer, Sparkle Group
• Franck Morales, Vice President, Connectivity Services, Orange Business Services
• Ralph Santitoro, Head of Digital Services, Fujitsu Network Communications
• Robert (Bob) Victor, Senior Vice President of Product Management, Comcast Business
• Mirko Voltolini, Global Head of Network on Demand, Colt Technology Services
• Jeremy Wubs, Senior Vice President, Marketing for Bell Business Markets, Bell Canada
• Shawn Hakl, Partner, 5G Strategy, Microsoft (Advisory Director)

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MEF and TM Forum align on Open APIs for Service Automation

MEF and TM Forum are aligning their efforts on open standard APIs to automate inter-provider services for digital transformation. 

Specifically, MEF’s inter-provider LSO Sonata APIs will be aligned with TM Forum's APIs so as to prevent a forking of the standards. 

MEF LSO Sonata APIs enable automation of MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet services, with additional work underway to automate connectivity services such as IP broadband, IP MPLS, Dedicated Internet Access, and 5G that underpin SD-WAN and SASE services at the network edge.

The two groups said their collaboration will help service providers accelerate their transition from operating within limited ecosystems/islands to being integral players in a worldwide federation of networks supporting on-demand digital services across multiple providers. 

TM Forum and MEF have specifically aligned on the following:

• TM Forum is developing Domain Context Specialization Guidelines that enable MEF LSO Sonata APIs to conform to TM Forum Open API standards.
• TM Forum API tooling is now being used by MEF to build the set of LSO Sonata APIs.
• LSO Sonata API product payloads work in alignment with TM Forum API standards using a polymorphic approach.
• The organizations have established a framework for ongoing collaboration.

“API alignment between MEF and TM Forum paves the way for members of both standards bodies to federate with the confidence and will accelerate service delivery across multiple providers.” said Pascal Menezes, CTO, MEF. “Automation of inter-provider services – with currently available and planned LSO APIs – ultimately opens up opportunities to offer enterprise customers on-demand/ dynamic connectivity with coveted global reach.”

“CSPs are clear that B2B services will be critical to the success of 5G. This requires CSPs to offer enterprises access to complex solutions to business challenges. CSPs cannot do this on their own, so building out ecosystems of partners to meet the myriad needs of enterprises is essential,” said George Glass, Chief Technology Officer, TM Forum. “Open APIs are an important part of integrating partner capabilities and enabling CSPs to establish, operate and monetize platform-based business models. Both MEF and TM Forum recognized that bringing our APIs into alignment was for the good of the industry.”

http://www.mef.net/Press-Releases/MEF-and-TM-Forum-Collaborate-on-Open-APIs-for-Service-Automation

MEF's LSO Inter-Provider Automation takes another step forward

Thursday, June 04, 2020  MEF  

Eight leading service providers are on track to be production-ready in 2Q 2020 for deploying MEF 3.0 LSO Sonata APIs to automate the ordering of MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet Access E-Line services:

• AT&T
• Infonas
• Bestel
• PCCW Global
• Sparkle
• Colt Technology Services
• Telefónica International Wholesale Services
• HGC Global Communications

Five already have implemented LSO Sonata APIs in production environments and three expect to be ready for deployment before the end of Q2 2020.  In addition, Bloomberg is the first multinational enterprise to take this step.

The goal of  LSO Sonata APIs is to help service providers to transition from operating as independent islands to participating in a global federation of automated networks that will support dynamic inter-provider services with frictionless commerce.

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