Vodafone, Nokia, Cisco, Benu Networks, and Casa Systems have experienced success in executing the first multi-vendor evaluation of a new broadband standard. 

The vendors evaluated a new open architecture for the Broadband Network Gateway (BNG). BNGs are crucial for linking several users to the internet but have historically been locked to a singular supplier. 

Disaggregated BNGs on the basis of the global TR-459 standard from the Broadband Forum will facilitate the component to function leveraging separate software and hardware from several vendors. 

“Cisco is devoted to driving solutions to expand broadband proliferation globally,” stated Andy Schutz, Product Management Senior Director for Cisco. 

“We believe the work being carried out in the Broadband Forum is fundamental to these efforts, particularly in the sphere of developing enhanced flexibility and selection of control and user planes from differing vendors harnessing the TR-459 standard.” 

Just as Open RAN is assisting the mobile ecosystem to prevent vendor lock-in, disaggregated BNGs will assist in doing the same for fixed broadband. 

“We are already driving a more diverse and open mobile ecosystem with Open RAN, and currently we are targeting fixed broadband,” explained Johan Wibergh, Chief Technology Officer for Vodafone. 

“As an industry, and with governmental assistance, we owe it to the populace with nil or slow web access to hasten the rollout on new capacities on quick, fixed broadband.” 

The multi-vendor evaluation successfully separated core gateway control functions – which includes authentication of a user and enhancing bandwidth to assist streaming services – and facilitated them to be managed in the cloud. 

“As a leading BNG vendor, Nokia is pleased to illustrate support for a broad array of BNG deployment models which includes Broadband Forum’s disaggregated BNG architecture,” stated Vach Kompella, VP and GM of Nokia’s IP Networks Business Division. 

“Nokia envisions a considerable evolution in BNG architecture with the introduction of CUPS in fixed, wireless, and 5G fixed wireless applications which will facilitate rapid feature introduction, optimum user plane placement and selection, as well as enhanced operations.” 

Vodafone states the leveraging of disaggregated BNGs will facilitate it to upgrade, scale, and deploy new features and include additional capacity independently, improving agility when making improvements across its broadband network.