Transforming Network Infrastructure: DIGI deploys DriveNets Network Cloud

Highlighting the growing momentum of network disaggregation, Roy Chua, founder and principal analyst at AvidThink, observed, “Network disaggregation isn’t only for the Tier-1 operators of the world; it’s gaining momentum across the entire industry and across the globe. The successful rollouts of DriveNets Network Cloud at DIGI shows that cloud-like networks can outperform traditional networks while significantly increasing service agility and cost optimization for operators of all sizes”.

DIGI chose DriveNets for its open disaggregated networking solution, with the goal to modernize its networks while avoiding incumbent vendor lock, achieving greater network efficiency, and reducing its capital and operating expenses. This deployment shows the strength of a software-based approach where network changes and optimizations can be accomplished efficiently, and new capabilities can be rapidly rolled out.

Setting the Stage for Network Change

Facing the daunting task of replacing Huawei core routers while supporting its fiber network expansion, DIGI set clear project objectives:

• Break vendor lock: The goal to open up the market by introducing new suppliers presented a significant challenge. This shift aims to drive competition and achieve cost savings, by leveraging the benefits of disaggregation.
• Overcome backplane limitations: Traditional transport networks come with backplane limitations that can hinder flexibility and scalability. For DIGI, there was a clear need to develop a more adaptable and scalable network infrastructure that could specifically meet its evolving service scale demands without the constraints of traditional hardware limitations.
• Achieve operational efficiency: Transitioning to software-based networking solution presented its own challenges. While the promise of operational simplicity and the introduction of cloud-like capabilities were appealing, realizing these benefits required overcoming the complexities associated with implementing disaggregation and managing software-driven network operations.

The solution came from DriveNets’ Network Cloud solution, with its Distributed Disaggregated Chassis (DDC) architecture, a move that marked a significant shift towards a more efficient, and scalable network infrastructure.

A Network Game-changer for DIGI

Faced with the challenges of upgrading core routers and overcoming the limitations of traditional network infrastructures, DIGI embarked on a transformative journey with DriveNets field-proven DDC solution.

DDC’s effectiveness and reliability have been validated in multiple real-world scenarios, demonstrating its capability to meet modern network demands with minimal risk.

By deploying DriveNets Network Cloud across core network sites in Romania, DIGI streamlined its network operations, now managing over 25% of its core traffic through this innovative platform. Since its deployment in 2023, DriveNets Network Cloud has already shown how the solution can simplify core network operations and reliably handle substantial core traffic workloads, demonstrating the power and efficiency of software-based network solutions. This agility enables rapid rollout of new capabilities, significantly improving network performance. DIGI’s successful deployment of DriveNets Network Cloud is a testament to the solution’s ability to not only meet current network demands but also swiftly adapt to future requirements, ensuring a scalable and flexible network infrastructure.

Overcoming Network Challenges and Gaining Benefits

By deploying DriveNets Network Cloud, DIGI achieved the following benefits:

• Fastest transition ever from trial to production: The solution enabled a live traffic trial in just a few weeks.
• No vendor lock: With DDC, DIGI was free to mix and match from a wide range of ASICs, hardware, software, and optics, eliminating vendor lock and encouraging a competitive, innovative environment.
• Incremental scalability: DDC supports scalable network growth with cost-effective, incremental capacity upgrades using standard white boxes as building blocks, optimizing capital expenditure.
• Unified HW from core to edge: DIGI applies DDC’s unified hardware approach throughout its core network, using standard white boxes. In future projects across various network domains, DIGI could leverage the same white box building blocks to construct routers of any size. This approach reduces the amount of network components, lowers inventory costs, streamlines the supply chain, and simplifies warehousing.

• Higher availability: DIGI’s network achieves high network availability with its DDC distributed structure and redundancy, simplifying maintenance by replacing individual white boxes instead of entire systems.
• Software-based innovation: DDC introduces a software-based, cloud-native network architecture, offering DIGI unprecedented flexibility and agility for rapid service deployment and integration.

A Model for Future Network Transformations

As the first operator in Romania to deploy a disaggregated IP infrastructure, DIGI highlighted three key elements with which they were very satisfied, throughout the project:

• Familiar network operations environment: DIGI aimed to enhance network flexibility and redundancy while ensuring that engineers could maintain familiarity with legacy network element operations. The operator requested the ability to manage network elements directly through a single command-line interface (CLI), akin to a traditional router. DriveNets Network Cloud DDC delivered familiar network operations with improved agility.
• Robustness of DDC solution: Encouraged by the reported network measurements already in-production and the robustness of DDC’s design, DIGI was very impressed with the robustness of the DDC architecture in its core network.
• Responsiveness: The collaboration between DIGI and DriveNets shows how tailored solutions and proactive support can facilitate seamless network transformations. DriveNets’ ability to listen and adapt to DIGI’s specific needs, from technical requirements to operational preferences, was instrumental in achieving the desired outcomes of its network modernization efforts.

Pioneering Network Modernization

The DIGI collaboration with DriveNets represents a forward-looking approach to network transformation, demonstrating the significant advantages of adopting a disaggregated, software-centric networking model. This effort serves as a blueprint for other service providers exploring the complexities of network modernization, offering valuable insights into the strategic planning, implementation, and benefits of such an undertaking.