| | july 20148CIOReviewThe Rise of Software Defined NetworksBy Doug Suriano, VP-Products, Oracle CommunicationsFor the last few years, Software Defined Networking (SDN) has been touted as the next big thing for Communications Service Providers (CSPs), as it promises to enable network engineers and CSP product executives to respond more quickly to changing business requirements--a must in today's rapidly evolving telecommunications industry. And the case for CSPs to invest sooner rather than later is becoming increasingly compelling--as technology ramps up and the fight to gain new subscribers and reduce churn, intensifies.Consumers are demanding a digital lifestyle where they have access to everything--a phone, music, games, apps, work files, their bank and even their home's security system--all on one mobile device. CSPs that embrace the opportunity to transition from "network and device providers" to "digital lifestyle providers" stand to strengthen relationships with existing customers and generate new opportunities in the digital world.And while SDN is taking hold in corporate networks, CSPs are hesitant to implement it, as the migration path is still largely undefined and the ability to achieve CSP performance and reliability requirements not fully proven. The transition to SDN will not occur over night, but rather as an on-going technology evolution--and the first steps of this transition are already underway. Existing network architectures are transitioning from their current form to more flexible networks that can manage dynamic applications, facilitate the development of innovative services, and respond in real time to rapidly shifting network conditions and customer demands. This transition will be marked by four overlapping stages.Phase One: The Move to DiameterThe first step on the road to SDN adoption­which is already underway in many joined the implementation of a Diameter signaling network. As CSPs respond to evolving customer demand and the accelerating pace at which subscribers are generating mobile data, many traditional signaling interfaces have transitioned to the Diameter protocol, the use of which is expanding rapidly. According to Oracle's 2013 LTE Diameter Signaling Index, global use of the protocol will expand 140 percent by 2017--more than twice as fast as mobile data growth.Diameter network routers perform essential functions to enable CSP networks to withstand the unpredictable and uneven Doug Surianoopinionin my
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