Skip to content
News Releases
October 6, 2023

Unleashing the Power of Cloud-Network Convergence

Digital cloud data storage digital concept. Cloudscape digital online service for global network. Database backup computer infrastructure technology solution
ZhongHua Chen, of China Telecom, explores key findings from the WBBA’s new working group whitepaper
In the last in a series of four World Broadband Association (WBBA) Working Group webinars, ZhongHua Chen, Senior Engineer and Project Manager, China Telecom, explores key findings from the WBBA’s new whitepaper Driving the Future: Understanding the Landscape of Cloud Network Convergence.

 

Service providers are strongly committed to supporting the digital transformation of enterprises by creating intelligent cloud network infrastructures. These infrastructures focus on achieving a seamless integration between cloud networks and the underlying transport networks. This determination is coupled with the need to modernize bearer networks to meet new requirements and challenges. In future, for example, cloud network convergence is expected to contribute to reduced costs and increased flexibility in meeting the needs of long tail applications.

Service providers are actively exploring various ways to synergize networks and cloud services. The transformation of IP and optical-based networks, combined with intelligent cloud network convergence, and driven by AI-enabled network automation, will play a crucial role in successfully implementing and accelerating enterprise digital transformation.

This transformation is expected to fuel growth across all services. However, traditional cloud networks struggle to meet the high-performance and ultra-low latency demands of digital services. Real-time cloud availability and cost-effective terminal edge performance need continuous enhancement through multi-cloud collaboration, cloud-edge partnerships, and even cloud-network-edge collaboration.

The development of cloud-network convergence has revolutionized the traditional three-layer network structure (access, aggregation, and core). This structure has evolved into a two-layer system that revolves around the fundamental resource layer of the network. This evolution extends from the cloud, encompassing intra-cloud, inter-cloud, cloud access, multi-cloud collaboration, and cloud-network-edge-terminal collaboration.

The initial phase of cloud-network convergence occurred within the intra-cloud network (within data centers). To address the need for rapid transmission of large volumes of data from cloud services, intra-cloud integration enables the automatic deployment, operations, and maintenance of virtual cloud networks within data centers. This is achieved through consistent security and network policies for containerized and virtualized service applications. For example, the Leaf-Spine/CLOS non-blocking architecture and extensive layer-2 network technology were introduced to seamlessly combine and operate network capabilities within data centers and cloud environments.

As the focus of cloud-network convergence shifts to inter-cloud networks, particularly Data Center Interconnection (DCI), the emphasis is placed on efficiently forwarding and carrying east-west traffic between data centers. This is achieved by deploying high-capacity, non-blocking, and low-latency Data Center Interconnection networks. Additionally, due to the surge in enterprise demand for accessing cloud and SaaS traffic, cloud access has emerged as a critical aspect of cloud-network convergence.

The evolving demand for 5G, gigabit fiber networks, and robust network performance is driven by applications in cloud and IoT. Moreover, as enterprise and vertical industries undergo digital transformation and adopt multi-cloud strategies, bearer networks must accommodate an increasing number of essential services. Cloud-network convergence is now expected to fulfil the diverse requirements stemming from various enterprise, government, individual, and family scenarios.

Cloud-network convergence must be flexible to adapt to an array of constantly evolving use cases and application scenarios. Network cloudification necessitates the continuous improvement of cloud capabilities. Similarly, the construction of digital platform capabilities relies on the ongoing upgrading of cloud network capabilities.

Access the WBBA Webinar here.

 

Sign Up to Receive News Updates

Membership Enquiries

[gravityform id="3" title="false"]

Testing New Form

Members

China Telecom Corporation Limited (“China Telecom” or the “Company”, a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability, together with its subsidiaries, collectively the “Group”) is a large-scale and leading integrated intelligent information services operator in the world, providing wireline & mobile telecommunications services, Internet access services, information services and other value-added telecommunications services primarily in the PRC.

As at the end of 2020, the Company had mobile subscribers of about 351 million, wireline broadband subscribers of about 159 million and access lines in service of about 108 million. The Company’s H shares are listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange” or “HKSE”).

Members

Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have approximately 197,000 employees and we operate in over 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.

Huawei’s mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will: drive ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks to lay the foundation for the intelligent world; provide the ultimate computing power to deliver ubiquitous cloud and intelligence; build powerful digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, offering consumers more personalized and intelligent experiences across all scenarios, including home, travel, office, entertainment, and fitness & health.

Members

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

The world is facing fundamental challenges. Pressure on the planet is increasing, productivity is stalling and access to opportunity remains stubbornly unequal. Technology is central to the solution.

Through technology leadership and trusted partnerships, we deliver critical networks to help address global issues.  We have the power to bring together the world’s people, machines and devices, sensing and acting in real time at massive scale. Our critical networks go beyond connectivity to enable self-optimizing, intelligent systems both locally and globally.

With our customers we deliver solutions that respond to climate change through more efficient use and re-use of the world’s resources, restore productivity growth by bringing digital to the physical industries it has not yet reached and provide more inclusive access globally to work, healthcare and education.

We create meaningful interactions to drive human progress.

Members

The technology world as we know it, is changing faster than ever. In a dynamic and complex landscape, the stakes are high, and the challenges and opportunities are real.

At the start of 2020 we formed Omdia by unifying the depth and breadth of expertise from Informa Tech’s legacy research brands: Ovum, IHS Markit Technology, Tractica and Heavy Reading. This empowered us to serve the technology industry like never before.

Today, we help organizations make better technology choices for their business and enable technology innovators to better understand and reach the markets they hope to serve.

Members

Swisscom is Switzerland’s leading telecom provider and one of its foremost IT companies, headquartered in Ittigen, close to the capital city, Bern. Its subsidiary Fastweb has built up a strong position on the Italian market. Swisscom brooks no compromise when it comes to serving customer needs; it focuses on service and quality and invests massively in the networks of the future.

Members

Openreach Limited runs the UK’s digital network. We’re the people who connect homes, schools, hospitals, libraries, businesses – large and small, broadcasters and governments to the world. It’s our mission to build the best possible network with the highest quality of service, and make sure that everyone in the UK can be connected. We’re a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group and our customers are the 650+ communications providers who sell phone, broadband and Ethernet services to homes and businesses.

Openreach is made up of four divisions – service delivery, fibre and network delivery, strategic infrastructure development, and headquarters.

Our 35,000 people are hugely experienced, resourceful and innovative. They tackle complicated engineering problems – from coordinating works with councils, highways agencies, energy suppliers and landowners, to installing and maintaining the complex kit that provides fibre broadband services. They go the extra mile and take on any challenge to build a better, faster and more affordable network that helps our customers stay connected.