2019 Showcase
2019 Next-Generation Central Office (NGCO) Report
The Next-Gen Central Office (NGCO) report covers the evolution in NGCO, recent trends, and key projects like CORD and VCO, as well as the role of the NGCO in new applications in edge computing and SD-WAN/vCPE.
Sponsor Spotlight Broadcom
NGCO Network Infrastructure
The NGCO is an amazing opportunity and a confluence of vision and product development, says Rochan Sankar, Senior Director, Switch Products, Broadcom. NGCO requires virtualization and cloudification of the underlying network. The Ethernet-based interconnects for this infrastructure presents many opportunities for innovation.
Sponsor Spotlight Cloud Native Computing Foundation
NGCO - Kubernetes becomes the Universal Abstraction Layer
Kubernetes, which is sometimes describes as "the Linux of the cloud," is poised to play a major role in next gen carrier infrastructures, says Dan Kohn, Executive Director, Cloud Native Computing Foundation, which is part of The Linux Foundation. Over time, virtual network functions (VNFs) will evolve to become cloud-native network functions (CNFs). In this world, Kubernetes can become the universal abstraction layer.
Sponsor Spotlight Ericsson
NGCO Foundation for 5G
When we look at how the industry evolves toward cloudification, virtualization and containers, we see that this is really there to support 5G, says Anders Rosengren, Head of Architecture and Technology, Digital Services, Ericsson. Apart from the cloud infrastructure, carriers must also consider how their network functions will evolve to virtualized and then to cloud-native.
Sponsor Spotlight Ethernity
Stop Burning CPU Cores on Networking and Security
Network functions in the NGCO require high throughput, low-latency, and deterministic behavior which general-purpose CPUs cannot always deliver. Ethernity provides data path offload on its FPGA SmartNIC, accelerating mobile and fixed networks to meet next-generation requirements and offering complete switch-router capability on a NIC.
Sponsor Spotlight Intel
NGCO puts x86 Servers at the Core
Telcos are reinventing the central office architecture to take advantage of server economics, says Alex Quach, Vice President and General Manager, Wireline and Core Networks Division. Network functions are being distributed to the edge and x86 is an enabling technology.
Sponsor Spotlight Nokia
NGCO - Service Agility in the 5G Core
With a cloud-native core, the network is able to respond faster to deliver capacity exactly where it is needed, explains Sandro Tavares, Head of Campaign Strategy, Nokia. The new core architecture is really about complementing 5G possibilities.
Sponsor Spotlight NTT
Introducing NTT Ltd
NTT Ltd launched on the 1st of July to bring together 28 brands from around the world like Dimension Data, NTT Communications, NTT Security as well as other NTT acquisitions made in the last 10 years. The combined NTT Ltd is poised to be a next-gen infrastructure company and Jason Goodall, the newly appointed CEO, talks about this new "40,000 employee startup" that brings together the multitude of assets operating in 57 countries.
Sponsor Spotlight Red Hat
NGCO - The Network Transformation Journey
The NGCO is bringing a lot of change not just at the technical level but also at the cultural level, says Mark Wohlfarth, VP, Global CSP Sales, Network Ecosystem, Red Hat. NGCO is really about Open Platforms, Open Collaboration, and Open Innovation.
Courtesy of our sponsors!
Complimentary Report Download
2019 Next-Gen Central Office
No personal info needed to download
Analysis by AvidThink
What the 2019 Next-Generation Central Office report finds
These interviews chart the reinvention of the central office around cloud economics, virtualization, and open platforms in support of 5G. The shared thesis is that carriers are shifting from purpose-built hardware to x86 servers and cloud-native software, with Kubernetes and container technologies becoming the common abstraction layer.
Cloud-native reshapes the central office
CNCF's Dan Kohn sees Kubernetes as the universal abstraction layer as VNFs evolve into cloud-native network functions, while Red Hat frames the NGCO around open platforms, open collaboration, and open innovation.
The NGCO is the foundation for 5G
Ericsson ties cloudification, virtualization, and containers directly to supporting 5G, and Nokia's cloud-native core lets the network deliver capacity exactly where it is needed to complement 5G.
x86 servers move to the core
Intel's Alex Quach says telcos are reinventing the central office around server economics, distributing network functions to the edge with x86 as the enabling technology.
Ethernet and virtualization drive innovation
Broadcom's Rochan Sankar calls the NGCO a confluence of vision and product development, requiring virtualization and cloudification with Ethernet-based interconnects opening room for innovation.
Offload accelerates network functions
Ethernity provides data path offload on its FPGA SmartNIC, delivering high throughput, low latency, and switch-router capability on a NIC where general-purpose CPUs fall short.
Transformation is cultural, not just technical
Red Hat's Mark Wohlfarth stresses the NGCO brings change at the cultural as well as technical level, while NTT Ltd reorganizes 28 brands into a next-gen infrastructure company.
Highlights from industry thought leaders
Video interviews
NGCO Network Infrastructure
- Broadcom's Rochan Sankar calls the NGCO a confluence of vision and product development.
- The NGCO requires virtualization and cloudification, with Ethernet-based interconnects opening room for innovation.
Abstract
The NGCO is an amazing opportunity and a confluence of vision and product development, says Rochan Sankar, Senior Director, Switch Products, Broadcom. NGCO requires virtualization and cloudification of the underlying network. The Ethernet-based interconnects for this infrastructure presents many opportunities for innovation.
NGCO - Kubernetes becomes the Universal Abstraction Layer
- CNCF's Dan Kohn positions Kubernetes, the Linux of the cloud, for a major role in carrier infrastructures.
- As VNFs evolve into cloud-native network functions, Kubernetes becomes the universal abstraction layer.
Abstract
Kubernetes, which is sometimes describes as "the Linux of the cloud," is poised to play a major role in next gen carrier infrastructures, says Dan Kohn, Executive Director, Cloud Native Computing Foundation, which is part of The Linux Foundation. Over time, virtual network functions (VNFs) will evolve to become cloud-native network functions (CNFs). In this world, Kubernetes can become the universal abstraction layer.
NGCO Foundation for 5G
- Ericsson's Anders Rosengren ties cloudification, virtualization, and containers to supporting 5G.
- Carriers must plan how network functions evolve to virtualized and then cloud-native.
Abstract
When we look at how the industry evolves toward cloudification, virtualization and containers, we see that this is really there to support 5G, says Anders Rosengren, Head of Architecture and Technology, Digital Services, Ericsson. Apart from the cloud infrastructure, carriers must also consider how their network functions will evolve to virtualized and then to cloud-native.
Stop Burning CPU Cores on Networking and Security
- Ethernity offloads the data path on its FPGA SmartNIC where general-purpose CPUs fall short.
- It accelerates mobile and fixed networks and offers complete switch-router capability on a NIC.
Abstract
Network functions in the NGCO require high throughput, low-latency, and deterministic behavior which general-purpose CPUs cannot always deliver. Ethernity provides data path offload on its FPGA SmartNIC, accelerating mobile and fixed networks to meet next-generation requirements and offering complete switch-router capability on a NIC.
NGCO puts x86 Servers at the Core
- Intel's Alex Quach says telcos are reinventing the central office to take advantage of server economics.
- Network functions are distributed to the edge with x86 as the enabling technology.
Abstract
Telcos are reinventing the central office architecture to take advantage of server economics, says Alex Quach, Vice President and General Manager, Wireline and Core Networks Division. Network functions are being distributed to the edge and x86 is an enabling technology.
NGCO - Service Agility in the 5G Core
- Nokia's Sandro Tavares says a cloud-native core lets the network deliver capacity exactly where needed.
- The new core architecture complements 5G possibilities.
Abstract
With a cloud-native core, the network is able to respond faster to deliver capacity exactly where it is needed, explains Sandro Tavares, Head of Campaign Strategy, Nokia. The new core architecture is really about complementing 5G possibilities.
Introducing NTT Ltd
- NTT Ltd launched July 1st, uniting 28 brands including Dimension Data, NTT Communications, and NTT Security.
- CEO Jason Goodall describes a 40,000-employee startup operating in 57 countries as a next-gen infrastructure company.
Abstract
NTT Ltd launched on the 1st of July to bring together 28 brands from around the world like Dimension Data, NTT Communications, NTT Security as well as other NTT acquisitions made in the last 10 years. The combined NTT Ltd is poised to be a next-gen infrastructure company and Jason Goodall, the newly appointed CEO, talks about this new "40,000 employee startup" that brings together the multitude of assets operating in 57 countries.
NGCO - The Network Transformation Journey
- Red Hat's Mark Wohlfarth says the NGCO brings change at the technical and cultural level.
- The NGCO is really about open platforms, open collaboration, and open innovation.
Abstract
The NGCO is bringing a lot of change not just at the technical level but also at the cultural level, says Mark Wohlfarth, VP, Global CSP Sales, Network Ecosystem, Red Hat. NGCO is really about Open Platforms, Open Collaboration, and Open Innovation.
"Cloud infrastructure continues to improve and evolve and has become the technical foundation for next-generation telecom systems and central offices."
Download the Full Report
By downloading this report, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Continue exploring
More executive showcases across next-gen infrastructure.
2025
2025 MWC Barcelona
Leading executives at MWC 2025 in Barcelona discussing AI, GenAI, AI-RAN, O-RAN, 5G-Advanced, 6G, Telco Cloud, Private 5G
2025
2025 Marvell Industry Analyst Day
Marvell executives share their vision for accelerated infrastructure and how Marvell's technology portfolio speeds up AI and cloud workloads
2025
2025 OCP Global Summit
Exclusive videos from thought leaders covering data center networking (scale-up, scale-out, scale-across), photonics, liquid cooling, SONiC