Network Slicing and Splicing
Network slicing is the embodiment of the concept of running multiple logical networks on a common physical infrastructure. In that context, a network slice is an isolated and virtualised network that provides service differentiation to meet end-user SLAs in an efficient and economical way. NetOS’ orchestration features deliver this within a single network domain (e.g. defining VLANs within an Enterprise Local Area Network).
Network splicing® extends the concept of Zeetta’s topology aggregation across different administrative network domains. This can be viewed as complementary concept to that of network slicing that enables the “stitching together” of two or more network slices to create a continuous logical network extending across different domains that delivers services with guaranteed performance.
Multi-domain Orchestrator
Zeetta’s NetSplicer is a Multi-Domain Orchestrator (MDO) that uses network slicing and network splicing to provide automated control across multiple network technologies and across different layers in the network stack.
It combines NetOS’ orchestration features with topology aggregation across multiple network domains to enable service orchestration across the entire network.
NetSplicer enables the end-to-end provisioning of services across network operators or different administrative parts of the same operator.
NetSplicer® features
Patented Intellectual Property
Patented IPR to efficiently slice optical spectrum in an optical network.
Works with any SDN controller or network control plane
Can work with any SDN controller or network control plane i.e. agnostic to network control plane type and vendor.
Enables recursive composition of network slices
Enables recursive network slicing and delegation of slice control i.e. a network slice to be controlled by its tenant controller.
Automates control of Layer2/Layer3
Automates Layer2/Layer3 control to provide flexible connectivity (slices) with respect to parameters such as latency and bandwidth.
Guarantees isolation and performance
Guarantees isolation and performance of the network slices under different operational and traffic conditions.
End-to-end network slicing
Supports end-to-end network slicing, on demand and in real-time, minimizing any interruption of service, including network slice upscaling and downscaling.
Acts and an MVNO enabler
Acts as an MVNO enabler: Implements slices containing VNFs placed at specific locations as required by the slice definition and function requirements.
WDM or modern flexi-WDM network transport
Supports classical WDM or modern flexi-WDM network transport technologies.
NetSplicer® Unique Technologies
Cross-technology layer optimisation
NetSplicer is able to splice, network slices across multiple network domains as well across multiple technology layers.
Allow optical layer virtualisation
Zeetta’s IPR could extend virtualisation down at L0 and L1 while optimizing bandwidth at physical transport layer.
Tenant control and management
A tenant can create a complex virtual network topology -including edge and core nodes- and fully control it.
On-demand, hitless cross-layer virtualisation
Virtual networks can be re-planned on demand without interruption of services.
In-service, real-time and hitless network optimisation
Network optimization tactics offer this unique capability.
Vendor agnostic
Vendor agnostic and utilising open networking standards.
Recursive network virtualisation
NetSplicer allows big virtual operators to further virtualise their own virtual infrastructure (recursive virtualization) and offer it as services to smaller/regional virtual operators.
Intelligent network-aware VNF placement
Slices can be optimised for specific bandwidth, jitter and latency requirements of NFVs;
Supports 3rd-party orchestrators
It can also cooperate with third-party NFV placement orchestrators to enable compute placement decisions within specific connectivity constraints.
NetSplicer® Architecture
New services & use cases enabled by NetSplicer®
- Pay-as-you-go optical network slice service (over Dark Fibre)
- User-controlled optical network slice (full control of traffic engineering /routing control over slice)
- URLLC services (IMT-2020 5G Requirements) for different verticals that require isolation at the lowest possible layer to meet strict latency and reliability guarantees
- Orchestrated network slicing over optical and Layer 2 (Ethernet) enables new services that combine the best of optical (isolation, low latency and reliability) with the best of Layer 2 (wide support, multiplexing and extensive use as a building block for higher level services):
- Provision of self-healing and self-adjustable network slices. Adaptive network slices can be created that re-plan or adjust their configuration automatically to adapt to variations applications and traffic demands, for example by changing layer1-3 or optical resources and parameters.
- Network-aware NFV orchestration. The NetSplicer® can take into account the network connectivity requirements (e.g. bandwidth and latency) and make NFV placement choices within those constraints. This maximises the ability to meet demanding and stringent KPIs for the user and control planes of virtualised network services.
- 5G-VRAN Slicing. Low-latency and high-bandwidth virtual network service orchestration for function placement service for different verticals (e.g. RAN networks, Transport, Utilities etc.) that builds upon the flexibility offered via multi-layer/multi-technology slices
Problems addressed by NetSplicer®
| Problems Solved and Benefits | Delayed CapEx | Frozen OpEx | Reduced OpEx | Reduced Time to Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improved fibre spectrum utilization from existing and new infrastructure enabling longer time periods between investment in equipment. | check box | |||
| Improved management and utilization of resources while supporting new service rollout – acts as a force multiplier for existing teams to manage increasingly complex services. | check box | |||
| Automated provisioning of the optical layer as part of the orchestration of the entire service end to end, previously the optical transport has been provisioned/configured separately and resulted in long lead times typically of several weeks. | check box | |||
| Each transport layer is currently planned and optimized separately with little collaboration between the different layers. The NetSplicer® solution offers: • Significant reduction of lead times for new services • Accelerated Service fulfilment times • Reduction of effort in troubleshooting/recovery from failure | check box | check box | ||
| When combined with Carrier Ethernet to provide multi-technology orchestration and slicing, the additional effort required to coordinate between Layer 2 and Layer 3 services can be reduced or removed all together. | check box | |||
| Real-time composition and re-planning of a network slice minimising interruption of service, both on-demand or to support self-healing. | check box | check box | ||
| Improved fault correlation between the multiple domains in the network layer to the end service. This makes it easier to monitor the layers as a single network and to see potential problems that can have knock-on effects. For example, a fibre cut can impact Layer 2 and Layer 3 services and it is difficult to identify the root cause | check box | |||
| Enabling closed loop Service Assurance. Once the problems are identified, the NetSplicer® and its Slicing Engine can remap the dependent services over different fibres resulting in minimum service disruption. Existing solutions have limited visibility outside their domain and can lead to service restoration times stretching from several minutes to several hours | check box | check box | ||
| As the demand for 5G services grows NetSplicer®’s automated intelligent placement of disaggregated network functions combined with flexible network slicing will reduce OpEx by removing redundant capacity and reduce CapEx by maximising the efficient use of existing infrastructure and assets. (E.g. by reacting to “tidal flow” effects in resource usage in real time). | check box | check box | check box | |
| The disaggregation of monolithic network functions into virtual deployments allows for new services to be composed of existing and/or new network functions. The NetSplicer® enables these to be deployed rapidly as compared to widescale hardware upgrade cycles that were previously a prerequisite for new service rollout. | check box | check box | check box |
