Vodafone trials disaggregated broadband network gateways

A vocal proponent of Open RAN in wireless, Vodafone is now looking to apply the same principle of disaggregation to the broadband network gateway (BNG). The operator teamed with Nokia, Cisco, Casa Systems and Benu Networks on what it claimed was the first test of the Broadband Forum’s TR-459 standard, and said it was able to validate a disaggregated BNG system which let it use software and hardware from multiple vendors as well as run core control functions for the gateway in the cloud. Within the network, the BNG acts as the portal through which subscribers gain access to the internet, sitting at the juncture between aggregated network traffic flows and the individual subscriber session. With a disaggregated BNG, operators can deploy the control and user planes in a new way, centralizing the former and distributing the latter to reap myriad benefits. Vodafone argued disaggregated BNGs would also enable “greater technological innovation from a more diverse supply chain” by lowering development costs for new and existing ecosystem players. A Vodafone representative stated there are already commercially available products for disaggregated BNGs and the next step toward deployments in the network is "to move from lab tests to network proof of concepts. This is planned to take place in the coming months."