Ciena unveiled a new enhancement to its Blue Planet network and service orchestration platform that reportedly will give network operators a DevOps-style approach that speeds up the creation and delivery of new on-demand, virtualized services within their SDN and NFV enabled networks. Ciena’s Blue Planet DevOps Toolkit features a set of software development tools that can be used by in-house personnel, and in collaboration with ecosystem partners, to modify new services and add new virtual and physical network resources more quickly and easily, according to Ciena. “The result is a significant reduction in cost and dependence on professional services associated with monolithic, vendor-controlled back-office systems,” the company says in a press release.
For example, with the Blue Planet DevOps Toolkit, network operators can utilize their own product development, IT and network operations teams to collaborate in the creation and on-boarding of new virtual network functions (VNFs) such as virtual firewalls, physical network domains such as Layer 2 metro networks, and virtual domains such as a third-party cloud, and ultimately deploy these resources as components of new service offerings.
“Network providers are increasingly competing as digital service providers, not simply communications service providers, in the wider digital economy. As a result, they strive to improve network operations and service creation and launch by shifting to a more nimble DevOps approach. Developer communities and tools like Ciena’s Blue Planet DevOps Toolkit give network providers more control over software build/buy decisions; limit custom development requirements; and facilitate faster deployments by streamlining internal and third-party collaboration, Dana Cooperson, research director at Analysys Mason, says.
Ciena is reporting that customers are saying that the “old way” of doing business is unsustainable.
“Blue Planet and the DevOps Toolkit have been selected for key global engagements recently because choice, openness, empowerment, and self-service are key components of our software,” Kevin Sheehan, VP, global customer operations at Blue Planet Division, Ciena, says. “Our Blue Planet DevOps Toolkit allows network operators to integrate their IT, product development and operations to create an interconnected ecosystem that reduces the time required to offer new services and quickly adapt their network to changing market needs.”
Bright House Networks has ordered 3,000 Getac rugged tablets. Bright House reportedly chose Getac because it was able to collaborate and develop a custom solution that dramatically improved their diagnostic workflow, according to the vendor.
Getac says that before placing the order, Bright House conducted “a rigorous, long-term pilot test with Getac products to ensure that their features, functions and rugged design could handle the everyday stress associated with the wide range of extreme environments in which the Bright House team operates.”
The Getac F110 fully rugged tablet reportedly helps field techs check, maintain and service consumer and commercial cable TV and media systems. Supervisors can use the V110 fully rugged convertible to manage their teams and increase data entry efficiency using the attached keyboard.
“Bright House’s final purchasing decision was influenced by several key features, including the thin and light form factor, LTE, GPS, digitized screen and industry-leading, three-year, bumper-to-bumper warranty,” Getac says in a press release. “Getac sealed the deal with its willingness to invest significant company resources to develop a custom HDMI-IN function to help field technicians test signals and run diagnostics.”