ZTE Elastic SPTN brings software-defined networking to PTN networks enabling bearer networks to carry next-generation services

21 October 2014, Shenzhen, China – ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763. HK/A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices, has launched the ZTE Elastic SPTN solution which brings the benefits of software-defined networking (SDN) to existing public telephone networks (PTNs) to enable the delivery of the latest high demand applications and services.

ZTE Elastic SPTN creates an open network which enables the bearer network to deliver applications and services by integrating IT and PTN technologies to create an open and flexible next-generation PTN system.

The rapid development of the internet and related services is putting new and greater demands on transport networks to enable bandwidth-hungry applications, more customer-friendly user and network interfaces, on-demand bandwidth services and performance monitoring, and cross-domain or cross-layer large customer services. All these demands are driving the demand for SDN technology in PTN networks.

SDN technology, like PTN networks, is designed with independent forwarding and control planes. ZTE’s Elastic SPTN solution is designed to reduce the technical obstacles in combining SDN and existing PTN networks.

Instead of changing the PTN forwarding devices in the old network, ZTE uses SDN intra-domain and inter-domain controllers to simplify the evolution of the PTN to the SPTN.

By using open northbound interfaces, this solution enables applications such as large customer services to fully access a network’s capability. The customer can apply for services online using APP (advanced programme-to-programme) services. The network topology and resource virtualisation services of the SDN controller enable fast end-to-end service composition, so that services can be configured automatically, making the initiation of the large customer service more efficient.

ZTE Elastic SPTN provides a nested controller solution, through which large customer services can be connected and scheduled rapidly and automatically through local networks, provincial backbone networks and national backbone networks.

As the first “reconfigurable APP solution” in the industry, this ZTE Elastic SPTN enables the deployment of the APP application layer free from specific logical connections. Instead, it flexibly configures open interfaces to the intra-controller and inter-controller, which speeds up network and service development and also decreases the cost of network construction and operation.

 “The evolution from the PTN to the software-defined networking PTN is a remarkable technical innovation,” said Zhao Fuchuan, general engineer of ZTE Bearer Networks. “ZTE’s Elastic SPTN solution makes it easier to use SDN in the PTN network. It protects the customer’s existing investments and enables brand-new services and open networks. The open architecture will provide customers with a powerful support platform for service innovation and application-based data stream operation.”

As 4G grows and 5G approaches, demand also grows for bearer networks to help deliver services such as mobile broadband, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. ZTE’s Elastic SPTN solution enables carriers to be ready for these changes, ensuring they can play a more and more important role in this new network era.