Nokia unveils Altiplano software-defined access platform, Lightspan programmable access nodes

Nokia has unveiled its software-defined access platform as well as programmable access nodes that can take advantage of it. The company says its Altiplano cloud-native software platform builds upon open interfaces, open data models, and several open industry initiatives. The Nokia Lightspan access node family covers both fiber and copper access network applications.

The company asserts that Altiplano enables the support of a variety of use cases, including network slicing, virtual access networks, data center practices, wavelength mobility, cloud-based provisioning, automated operations, and edge cloud architectures that enable 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) services. The platform leverages Nokia's activities within such software-defined access network (SDAN) initiatives and organizations as Open Broadband and other Broadband Forum activities (see "Nokia leads Broadband Access Abstraction project for Broadband Forum"), ON.Lab, Open Networking Foundation (ONF), Central Office Rearchitected as a Data Center (CORD), and the Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) Project to provide open interfaces that enable use of the platform in multivendor environments, the company adds.

The platform release is part of a growing interest in applying software-defined networking and network functions virtualization (SDN/NFV) concepts to access networks. AT&T, for example, recently discussed its work on the Virtual Optical Line Termination Hardware Abstraction (VOLTHA) 1.0 open access software platform (see "AT&T releases VOLTHA to ONF for XGS-PON software-defined access").

Meanwhile, the Nokia Lightspan line complements Altiplano with a portfolio of programmable access nodes that can take advantage of Altiplano's capabilities. Initial elements in the line include the Lightspan SX-16F, a 16-port reverse-powered Gfast micro-node, as well as the Lightspan CF-24W, a 1RU stackable optical line terminal (OLT) for next-generation PON (NG-PON) applications.

Nokia says it has conducted SDAN demonstrations with du, nbn, and SK Telecom, among others.

"While fixed access operators across the globe are raising the bar on ultra-broadband coverage, it's no longer enough to just make networks faster," commented Teresa Mastrangelo, Principal Analyst at Broadband Trends, via a Nokia press release. "Nokia SDAN lays the foundation for fixed operators to change the economics of their business with cloud agility and software-driven automation. Nokia SDAN is putting virtualization to work, focusing on real-world benefits for operators and end users, addressing investment protection and improving scalability with industry-leading powerful access nodes. With this announcement, Nokia has the opportunity to lead operators into this new era of software-defined access networks."

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