Ericsson cloud platform enables successful launch of multi-vendor NFV for NTT DOCOMO

• Milestone launch of the world’s first commercial, multi-vendor Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) solution
• Ericsson’s open NFV platform provides interoperability and connectivity with any carrier class virtualized network function and Software Defined Networking (SDN)
• Ericsson plans to expand cloud platform functions to support NTT DOCOMO’s future virtualization

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) today announces that a multi-vendor NFV solution using Ericsson’s open NFV platform was successfully launched for the commercial network of NTT DOCOMO, INC. on March 9th.  The launch represents the first commercial deployment of this kind in the world.

The Ericsson NFV platform provides interoperability and connectivity with any carrier class virtualized network function and SDN. Based on an open architecture, the solution consists of the OpenStack-based Ericsson Cloud Execution Environment as the virtualization platform and the NFV orchestrator, Ericsson Cloud Manager. In addition, Ericsson provided system integration and support services.  The solution initially supports a multi-vendor virtual EPC deployment.

Ericsson’s open NFV platform can run any network functions from Ericsson as well as third parties, and provides the highest levels of performance, reliability, operation, and maintenance capabilities. The new virtualized environment enables NTT DOCOMO to accelerate the delivery of new services over a stable and interoperable network.

Seizo Onoe, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at NTT DOCOMO, says: “DOCOMO has again demonstrated its technology leadership by the launch of multi-vendor NFV.  I am extremely excited to see this progress to provide better services based on standardized future-proof architecture.”

Anders Lindblad, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Cloud & IP at Ericsson, says: “As the solution partner to NTT DOCOMO, Ericsson is proud to be part of a landmark launch which is significant for the whole industry. We believe our mutual experiences from the Open Platform for NFV (OPNFV) network architecture will accelerate global standardization and interoperability. We will continue to bring cost effective network operation and flexible, dynamic resource management for them. “

Through a strong partnership between NTT DOCOMO and Ericsson, both companies are closely collaborating to drive global standardizations and vital industry interoperability in OPNFV, ETSI NFV and 3GPP.