14.11.2024
Greater flexibility through the decoupling of soft- and hardware:O2 Telefónica modernizes transport network at the push of a button
The signals from the 28,000 mobile radio sites are forwarded via the transport network
O2 Telefónica is creating greater flexibility in its own transport network with the so-called “whiteboxing” approach. With this new concept, the telecommunications provider ensures that the software and hardware of the numerous switching centers in the transport network – so-called IP routers – are decoupled from each other. This enables the company to remotely install vendor-independent software updates on the existing routers. The software-based approach has the potential to increase independence from individual manufacturers, extend the lifecycle of network technology, and save a great deal of time and resources.
Aysenur Senyer, Director Access and Transport Engineering, Planning and Development
“We are taking the next innovative step towards high-performance, disaggregated transport networks,” says Aysenur Senyer, Director Access and Transport Engineering, Planning and Development at O2 Telefónica. ”The real advantage is that we can quickly switch the software on our routers from one provider to another. This seamless transition via remote software update increasingly eliminates the need to exchange physical devices. This means we can adapt even faster to new requirements or technological changes. Our customers benefit from the latest technologies and software releases in the transport network, which further increase the performance and security of the network.”
Remote update instead of manual replacement by technicians
IP routers receive software updates remotely using the whiteboxing approach
O2 Telefónica is implementing the new whiteboxing approach in the transport network for more than a thousand IP routers in the first step. These are so-called “switches” that connect several network elements and forward signals in the right direction. As an exchange, they ensure that the data packets arrive correctly at the next network node. To do this, several thousand switches are distributed throughout the network in Germany.
Until now, technicians had to travel to the locations to carry out modernization measures on site or to replace the technology completely. The new remote solution, which decouples software and hardware, allows them to install updates remotely. This not only eliminates the need for travel but is also significantly faster. This is because updates can be installed for several routers at the same time. In the current project, around 100 routers per week are updated to the latest version “at the push of a button”.
Faster, more sustainable, and saves resources
Since the routers are equipped with the latest functionalities more quickly, O2 Telefónica customers benefit from an improved network experience. The latest software releases, protocols and routing functionalities ensure that the network is even more powerful and always up to date in terms of security.
The “whiteboxing” approach also saves time and money: by increasingly avoiding the need to replace hardware and the associated technician visits, O2 Telefónica can save a six- to seven-figure sum in the first project step alone.
In addition, the approach contributes to a more sustainable use of existing hardware. Functioning routers no longer have to be replaced prematurely when they are no longer supported by updates. Since the software can be updated independently of the hardware, the technology remains up to date. The lifecycle of individual technology components is extended.
With the white boxing approach, O2 Telefónica is taking an important step towards achieving greater flexibility in the transport network. The concept could also serve as a model for many other manufacturers to increasingly offer separate solutions for software and hardware in the future.
