Ciena Introduces Enhanced Policy Capabilities for its Blue Planet Platform Leveraging ONAP Elements

Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is introducing enhanced policy capabilities into its Blue Planet intelligent automation platform that incorporates the architectural framework from the Linux Foundation’s open-source Open Networking Automation Platform ( ONAP ) to aid network providers’ evolution to more adaptive, software-centric networks. The new Blue Planet policy subsystem will support advanced closed-loop automation use cases, such as preventing a potential failure or dynamically scaling capacity to support growing bandwidth demands. Additionally, it will give operators more control to create intent-based policies that better guide their networks to address potential obstacles and meet their key growth objectives.

Key Facts:

• Policy plays an essential role in closed-loop network automation by creating rules that guide the decisions and actions taken by software to automatically modify the behavior of the network.

• Blue Planet incorporates numerous best-in-class open-source concepts, components, and frameworks, alongside Ciena-developed innovations to provide a differentiated platform that meets the current and future needs of customers. By making Blue Planet compatible with key elements of ONAP, Ciena is further expanding Blue Planet’s interoperability and applicability.

• Ciena Blue Planet is adding support for ONAP virtual network function (VNF) descriptors and packaging specifications to the already supported ETSI ISG NFV Release 2 specification. By supporting both specifications, Ciena is providing customers greater choice in how they approach today’s rapidly evolving networking environment.

• Ciena is an active contributor to multiple open-source initiatives, including ONOS and CORD, MEF LSO, and others, and is a Silver Member of ONAP, having joined in 2017.

• Blue Planet’s support for ONAP VNF descriptors and packaging specifications are available today, while the enhanced policy subsystem will be available in the second half of 2018.

Executive Comments:

• “The future of networking lies with openness and the concept of ‘choice’, allowing network operators to select best-of-breed technologies and solutions. These Blue Planet enhancements bring us closer towards the common goal of software-led, policy defined, network transformation. They also help forge a path for more adaptive networks that can self-learn, self-configure, self-heal, and self-optimize by constantly assessing network status.”
  - Steve Alexander, Chief Technology Officer, Ciena

• “Open-source is driving much of the innovation and transformation taking place across the networking industry. As a member of the ONAP project and a Blue Planet customer, we see the value that technology providers like Ciena can provide by incorporating open-source software for potential deployment in our production network environment.”
  - Art Nichols, Vice President of Architecture and Technology, Windstream

• “Having an established vendor of Ciena’s caliber affirming our approach for supporting best-of-breed technologies and solutions, is further validation of our organization’s work and brings us another step closer to full open source adoption. We are excited about how ONAP has seen a large community of end users, vendors and system integrators come together and products like Blue Planet show the adoption of the platform to meet ecosystem needs.”
  - Arpit Joshipura, General Manager, Networking, The Linux Foundation

Open Networking Summit (ONS) 2018:

Ciena’s Blue Planet software will be on display at the ONS event in Los Angeles, Calif. From March 26-29, 2018 in booth #20. Also at the show, Adan Pope, Ciena’s Chief Information Technology Officer, Blue Planet, will participate in a keynote panel on Tuesday, March 27 at 2:25 pm PT.