NEC and K-Opticom Successfully Trial System Combining Virtualization Technology with 10G-EPON

NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) and Netcracker Technology today announced that they have successfully conducted a trial, in collaboration with K-Opticom, for a system combining Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and 10G-Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) technologies. The trial verified for the first time ever(1) that virtualized Customer Premises Equipment (vCPE) can be successfully applied to 10Gbps Internet connections.
K-Opticom is a leading provider of telecommunications services based on its independent optical fiber network. The company operates the “mineo” mobile phone service as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), and “eo denki,” an electric power retailing service for household use.
CPE provides CPE and other top-layer functions, such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Network Address Translation (NAT), from data centers via the Internet. vCPE also enables the improvement of home-based communications environments, making it possible to simplify home gateways, and to achieve the following:
1. By virtually establishing conventional CPE functions on the K-Opticom network side, CPE enables the constant provision of a secure communications environment. It also makes it possible to provide new services such as Video on Demand (VoD), cloud storage and parental control easily and quickly.
2. vCPE makes it possible to monitor the conditions of communications on devices such as computers, smartphones and tablets remotely at the request of the service user; facilitating the improvement of communications environments, and enabling prompt identification and resolution of faults.
Based on the results of this trial, further trials are being planned in preparation for the full-scale application of vCPE to 10Gpbs Internet services.
“Communications traffic volumes for home-use connections are increasing year by year, and K-Opticom estimates that these traffic volumes will continue to grow. As a result, we are considering the provision of a 10Gbps service,” said Takamitsu Fukunaga, Senior Vice President, K-Opticom Corporation. “We are engaged in continual efforts together with NEC to enable us to offer this service to our customers as soon as possible.”
“NEC and Netcracker are honored to have carried out this trial, the first of its kind, to validate that vCPE can be applied to 10G-EPON-together with K-Opticom,” said Shigeru Okuya, Senior Vice President, NEC Corporation. “Moving forward, we will continue to proactively advance the development of solutions that contribute to the improvement of service quality for K-Opticom, and to make use of these results in providing SDN/NFV solutions globally.”
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.
Based on its Mid-term Management Plan 2015, the NEC Group globally provides “Solutions for Society” that promote the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. Under the company’s corporate message of “Orchestrating a brighter world,” NEC aims to help solve a wide range of challenging issues and to create new social value for the changing world of tomorrow.