China Unicom Teams with Cisco to Enable Cloud + Network Synergy with Segment Routing - Seite 2

Segment Routing inherent benefits of network simplification, massive scalability and cross-domain operations support perfectly fit with China Unicom's needs. Interoperability between vendors' devices and controllers was a mandatory requirement.

Cisco used the ASR 9000 router series as the Provider Edge router (PE router), and went beyond traditional third-party equipment (using the static Segment Routing solution) to realize the connection of SRTE. As part of the overall solution, Cisco provided its Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) and WAN Automation Engine (WAE), participated in activities such as business modeling, equipment configuration, topology information collection and route calculation for Cisco and third-party equipment, and successfully delivered a multi-vendor Segment Routing solution.

Cisco also worked with China Unicom to drive and achieve high availability (HA) with multiple vendors' SDN controllers. The system can monitor the condition of the master controller. When the master controller fails, the backup controller from a different vendor can smoothly take over all the business models, business examples, as well as configuration and route information, so as to complete the switching. This innovation is of utmost importance for upcoming 5G/large-scale SDN deployment.

Cisco's Advanced Services teams played a major role in the implementation phase of the project. To align with China Unicom's business strategy, Cisco did some "joint development" and customized development through a "three-step" strategy - consulting, implementation, and optimization. Cisco's solution support team acted as the single Point of Contact (PoC) coordinating with related suppliers to follow up and screen problems, and the time needed to solve problems was reduced by 43%.

Ma Jichun, chief engineer from the digital department of China Unicom's design institute CITC, said: "In the context of the new era, China Unicom strives to work with its partners to build a 'cloud + network' ecosystem by actively adopting SDN, NFV, cloud computing, Ultra-broadband Network and other technologies. There is a broad space for China Unicom and Cisco to engage in close collaboration and work together to develop leading technologies such as Segment Routing and SDN. China Unicom will build future networks with an open attitude, to better meet the new needs of customers."