- Broadband Forum released new standards for disaggregating network OLTs
- They argued disaggregation can help lower costs and simplify network management
- Adoption could take some time, Dell'Oro's Jeff Heynen said
Just like the Oregon Trail, the process of disaggregating the network has been a long and arduous journey. But there’s finally an end of sorts in sight as Broadband Forum tackles the final peak standing between operators and full disaggregation: optical line terminals (OLTs).
Earlier this month the group unleashed its TR-477 and MR-477 standards, which provide a migration path from traditional access nodes to disaggregated ones, with a specific focus on OLTs.
Wait, disaggra-WHAT? Basically, Broadband Forum has created a way for operators to decouple the hardware from the software in access nodes. So, rather than the software living in the node, it can now reside in the cloud. Or part of it can, at least.
This shift means that operators can use white-box hardware at the node, which theoretically opens the door to increased vendor diversity and cost savings. It also enables cloud-based improvements to workflows, automation, update processes and more. That latter bit is all part of Broadband Forum’s idea of a Cloud Central Office (CloudCO).