OREANDA-NEWS. NEC Corporation has begun sales to telecom carriers of the world's first commercial virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC), a virtualized mobile core network solution that achieves Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), network functions on a virtualization infrastructure running on a commercial-off-the-shelf server hardware with Intel Architecture(IA).

The solution will first be offered as one of NEC SDN Solutions' Network Functions Virtualization Solutions for the telecom carrier market unveiled in July this year. Evolved Packet Core (EPC), the mobile core network accommodating LTE and other mobile access networks, is composed of functions such as Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (S-GW) and PDN gateway (P-GW).

NEC vEPC succeeded in virtualizing all of the functions on an IA server while achieving Carrier Grade Service quality and capabilities. As a result, this solution provides for telecom carrier needs, including TCO optimization, dynamic and quick network capacity scaling and management, and rapid launch of new services that deliver new revenue sources. Moreover, the use of a virtualization infrastructure makes it possible to dynamically boost server resources according to network traffic volume and service trends. Furthermore, the use of IA servers significantly reduces equipment costs and procurement lead time when compared to existing dedicated hardware for mobile core network products.

NEC has delivered the vEPC as part of a communication infrastructure development project in Myanmar, with the system scheduled to launch commercial operation in December this year.

In recent years, telecom carriers' networks have become increasingly complex, and to introduce new communications equipment based on traffic demand, tasks such as designing new networks and procuring dedicated hardware have required a great deal of time and money. The issue of sharply rising operational costs associated with additional capital expenditures has also emerged. This solution addresses these issues.

With the aim of realizing a safe, secure, efficient, fair and prosperous society, NEC will continue to develop technologies, products and servers, forge alliances with partners, actively propose solutions to customers, further strengthen its ICT-based SDN business, help create new value for customers and contribute to the development of advanced social infrastructure.