Software Monetization Featured Article

Gemalto will be at NFV & Zero Touch World Congress this week in San Jose talking about the important trend of network function virtualization. Join Martin Liepert. Gemalto’s (News - Alert) Software Architect for the session “Trends in the Network Function Virtualization Market,” at NFV & Zero Touch World Congress this Thursday in San Jose.

NFV is a relatively new term that describes network architectures in which functions exist as software. With NFV, network operators can buy software-only versions of the functions of their choice (rather than buying hardware appliances). And they can run that software on the hardware of their choice.

Using standard, off-the-shelf hardware can provide network operators with lower costs, greater flexibility, and better use of assets. It can lower their power consumption costs and footprint. It can also lessen vendor lock-in and move them into more open environments.

Freeing software from hardware can also enable network operators and their partners to reduce development and deployment times. That way, they can expedite the introduction of new capabilities and services. And that can make them more competitive in the marketplace.

This move to software-centric environments also allows for more dynamic scaling – meaning businesses can rapidly scale up and down as needed. And it can allow network operators to pay their suppliers – like Cisco, Juniper, Cambium Networks  and many others – only for the virtual network functions they want and use.

But selling network functions in this way is an entirely new strategy for most of the 150 or so companies that now sell and/or are developing VNF solutions.

This new model means such suppliers need to track VNF instances against VNF license terms and bill the service provider accordingly. And they need to take steps to keep their intellectual property safe.

To learn more about this important topic, join Martin Liepert. Gemalto’s Software Architect for the session “Trends in the Network Function Virtualization Market,” April 26 at 11:35 a.m.