Alcatel-Lucent takes networks to cloud

PARIS, FRANCE: Telecom networking equipment vendor Alcatel-Lucent introduced a new solution, CloudBand, which, according to the company, will enable communication service providers to deliver networking services from cloud.

CloudBand is the company's new class of 'carrier cloud' services that will enable communications service providers to bring cloud to their networks and business operations.

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Adolfo Hernandez, President, of Alcatel-Lucent's Software, Services & Solutions Group said: "From our research we know that performance is the highest concern of IT decision makers. We also know that they believe communications service providers are in the best position to deliver the quality and security they expect, making them the cloud provider of choice for the enterprise world. The network makes the cloud, and communications service providers own the networks. That's a very powerful combination."

CloudBand is comprised of two distinct elements: the CloudBand Management System, which delivers orchestration and optimization of services between the communications network and the cloud; and CloudBand Node, which provides computing, storage and networking hardware and associated software to host a wide range of cloud services, says a release.

Rather than having to install dedicated equipment for every communication service, such as SMS or video, service providers can instead draw from the carrier cloud to address demand. This approach offers service providers elasticity, meaning they can expand or shrink particular elements of their service mix quickly as market demand dictate.It also means they can test out new services without having to make a massive investment, making it much easier to start small and grow as needed, claims the company in a release.

CloudBand features algorithms developed by Bell Labs, which orchestrates the network, computing and data storage elements distributed throughout the network.

Alcatel-Lucent is working with a number of partners to make this cloud vision a reality, including HP. CloudBand will be available for deployment in the first half of 2012.