RAD is a global leader for telecom access solutions. As an industry pioneer for over 40 years, RAD reliably supplies worldwide communications service providers and critical infrastructure operators with best-of-breed Ethernet access devices, industrial IoT gateways, 5G xHaul, and Operational WAN solutions. Offering always-on connectivity from anywhere, along with data-driven, AI-powered actionable insights, RAD is distinguished for its supply-chain stability, which outsteps the market in delivery times. Founded in 1981, RAD serves as the anchor of the $1.6 billion RAD Group, an umbrella of independent companies that develop diverse networking and data communications solutions.
Contact

Contact Us

This information will be used according to our Privacy Policy

Scroll to top of page

Blog Post

You are here

Blog Homepage
   

Has SD-WAN Become a Walled Garden?

Aug 13, 2018

In the last year or so, SD-WAN has caught the attention of service providers, with some of them going as far as investing in related startups. At the same time, service providers began to realize that while the technology provides easy-to-deploy solutions that include VNFs, white boxes and a management suite, these solutions are in effect walled gardens. Once an SD-WAN vendor is selected, it is quite impossible to add capabilities (if such capabilities aren’t available from this particular vendor), or to make necessary changes that are not within the scope of a particular solution. In many cases, such SD-WAN packages are offered by the same vendors that offered proprietary equipment that isn’t interoperable with network elements from other suppliers.  

‎Still, SD-WAN provides a great value that shouldn’t be ignored. That’s why RAD’s vCPE Toolbox includes our open vCPE operating system (vCPE-OS) and vSD-WAN software (such as Versa Network’s) that is run as a VNF. These can be uploaded to any white box platform – whether RAD’s or a third-party’s – with the ability to service-chain any additional VNF from any vendor, say a security suite, SBC, or others. The objective is to give service providers full control and flexibility to pick and choose the best of breed VNF that fits the needs of its customers and deployment scenarios. When these needs change, new VNFs can be added or existing ones can be replaced. 

SD-WAN releases the network from the chains of dedicated appliances. It should not be stymied by limiting deployments to what a specific vendor has to offer.

To learn more about what I have to say about the issue check out the video below.

 

 

< Blog Home

About RAD's Blog

We’ll be blogging on a wide range of hot topics affecting service providers and critical infrastructure network operators. Our resident experts will be discussing vCPE, Cyber Security, 5G, Industrial IoT and much, much more.

   

What would you like to do?