(c)iStock.com/FilippoBacci
An OpenCloud survey has revealed that three-quarters of operators will deploy a converged service layer (CSL) by 2018.
A CSL is a service-layer architecture that can deliver real-time video and voice calling telecom services independent of the access network technology. Operators are moving to CSL after facing increasingly complex legacy service layers, the researchers argue, with a handful of CSLs have already been deployed.
The report revealed that the growth of the CSL will be driven by service agility and the introduction of network function virtualisation (NFV). At present, operators run multiple cellular, wire-line and Wi-Fi access networks concurrently and find it problematic to provide services consistently across their network area.
Heavy Reading conducted the survey, which was commissioned by OpenCloud and covered telecom operators in international markets. More than a third of operators said that CSL architecture is ‘critical’ to delivering services across different access network types. Another 46% said that CSL is ‘important’ for achieving this goal.
The survey also highlighted desirable credentials in CSL vendors. It found that 52% ranked control-plane and virtualisation experience as a critical credential for a CSL specialist.
A key technical driver for the deployment and growth of CSL is the introduction of NFV. The survey found that 48% operators believe the NFV migration offered an opportunity to introduce CSL in their networks. Up to a third said that service agility/introduction was a key reason for driving CSL adoption and 58% said that it was due to the shift to 4G and 5G technologies. Other key drivers were capital expenditure (60%) and operational expenditure (51%).
Jonathan Bell, VP marketing at OpenCloud, said: “The survey results clearly demonstrate an active and growing interest in a converged service layer architecture that can serve multiple legacy and new access networks. With a converged service layer, operators have the ability to deliver real-time voice and video-calling services regardless of the access network technology, meaning services may be delivered over 2G, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi and in the future 5G connections.”
