Orange Business is tapping into the global business market’s desire for Network as a Service (NaaS) by launching its Easy Go Network, a service that provides virtual network functions (VNF) via SDN technology.
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Following a yearlong trial with multiple customers, Orange said that the service will be available in 75 countries by the end of the year.
Enterprises can use the Easy Go Network to provision VNFs for branch offices with full self-service ordering, customer care and reporting functions via an online portal. By deploying a plug-and-play router at the customer site, Orange says it can eliminate truck rolls for more flexibility and rapid deployment. After the router is installed, network functions will then be available in minutes at any site. The service provider plans to launch a universal CPE for larger sites next year.
Orange said this virtual approach allows CIOs to worry less about the network and focus more on end-user experience, enabling them to introduce new digital services faster in a more automated way and deliver a consistent end-user experience on a global basis. Offered under a month to-month contract, the service is on-demand and does not require an upfront investment or a minimum revenue commitment.
Pierre-Louis Biaggi, VP of the Connectivity Business Unit at Orange Business Services, said in a release that the service provider’s “ultimate goal is an adaptive network, which we will bring to our customers within the next three years.”
Initial targets for the Easy Go Network include multinational retailers that need to quickly and affordably open new sites, such as concessions or pop-up stores. In less than five minutes, Orange says the Easy Go Network will allow them to add additional sites or optional virtualized services.
Besides rapid provisioning, the Easy Go Network gives enterprises a deeper understanding of network activity. Enterprises gain full visibility over network usage and one-click security policy enforcement for all sites. In addition, an enterprise’s employees are connected to the tools they use to engage with end-customers.
Leveraging Fortinet Security Fabric technology, Orange is offering application awareness running on a virtual, adaptive enterprise firewall. The collaboration with Fortinet enables the Easy Go Network to offer comprehensive, virtualized security functions, including unified application control, intrusion prevention, web content filtering, spyware prevention and malware defense.
Orange said it will add other virtualized functions from selected vendors, including application optimization and Wi-Fi management, which are slated to debut in 2017.
The service provider has been quite active on the SDN front, including a recent collaboration with AT&T. In July, the two service providers reached an agreement to collaborate on new open source activities related to SDN and NFV, aiming at developing new standards carriers can follow as they implement virtualization in their networks.