Telstra selects Cisco Network Services Orchestrator for business services

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) says that Telstra will use the technology provider's Network Services Orchestrator (NSO), enabled by Tail-f, as the basis for an "Orchestrated Assurance Solution" for enterprise and business customers. Telstra will use the Cisco orchestration technology to automate provision and assurance of IP networks and services.

The platform includes the use of virtual probes, which Cisco asserts are faster and cheaper to install than hardware-based alternatives. The software-based approach also supports faster system upgrades.

"Extending orchestration beyond just provisioning is a huge step for our customers as they make the transition to cloud-based infrastructures. Now for the first time, service providers will be able to see in real-time the health and performance down to a specific customer level, even for NFV-based services," asserted Gee Rittenhouse, senior vice president and general manager, Cloud & Virtualization Group, at Cisco.

Cisco says Telstra's deployment comes after a recent ETSI NFV Proof of Concept using open third-party software. The implementation is part of Telstra's migration to cloud based services, an approach that leverages virtual test agents and other software.

"This model-driven approach to network automation will enable us to dramatically increase our level of automation and assurance for our customers," explained Mike Wright, group managing director, networks, at Telstra. "The flexibility and open nature of the Cisco solution will provide us some of the tools needed to innovate new services at a rapid pace in line with the expectations of our customers, particularly in the area of orchestrated assurance."

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