Cisco and telecom operator Vodafone will be demonstrating new network slicing techniques via segment routing at MWC 2018.
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The techniques help to lower and control latency for high-bandwidth applications running on Vodafone’s mobile network, to improve the overall entertainment experience for customers streaming video, games and augmented, virtual or mixed reality streams.
Network traffic from wireless and mobile devices will account for more than 63 percent of total IP traffic by 2021, according to the Cisco Visual Networking Index Forecast 2016-2021.
Vodafone has started using Cisco segment routing technology to simplify its overall transport network operations by automating core functions to better detect and solve traffic congestion issues.
Cisco said Segment Routing allows the transport network to differentiate the way it delivers applications, removing legacy protocols and making network operations easier. Engineers at Vodafone, using a software defined network (SDN) for transport, can create a low latency ‘slice’ (a virtual route within the transport network) to ensure the right selection of the route with the shortest end-to-end latency.
Segment routing improves network resiliency by using ‘self-healing’ to intuitively restore connectivity in under 50 milliseconds if an issue occurs by rerouting traffic automatically. That will provide better network up-time and allow for faster upgrades.
“Segment routing marks another example of how Vodafone is transforming its network operations with more software and cloud-powered technology to deliver innovative services faster and more efficiently,” Yvette Kanouff, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider Business, Cisco, said.