Brocade joins NGMN alliance to standardize 5G for 2020 launch

BENGALURU: Brocade has announced its membership in the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance, an open forum founded by global network operators dedicated to ensuring that the standards for next-generation mobile broadband infrastructure satisfy end-user demands and expectations.

As a member of the NGMN Alliance, Brocade will help define and standardize next-generation mobile broadband technologies. In particular, Brocade will contribute its leadership and expertise in software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) as the alliance further evolves its work on the standardization and availability of 5G for 2020 and beyond.

Brocade indicates that as mobile operators begin to transform their networks to support 5G, they need a New IP architecture that can support the scale, automation and services enabled by software and an open ecosystem. Alliances such as NGMN will lead the development of new partnership and business models supported by technologies that increase performance and scalability for mobile broadband networks.

“Brocade believes that New IP networking solutions are intricately linked to delivering the performance and scale necessary to support billions more users and devices,” said Kevin Shatzkamer, Chief Technology Officer of mobile networking, Brocade. “We are excited to share our strong domain expertise in SDN and NFV to support the development of 5G requirements and design principles.”

The NGMN Alliance membership now comprises 28 global mobile network operators, 35 major telecom vendors and 28 universities and international research institutions. “The NGMN Alliance welcomes Brocade's contributions to developing our 5G program,” said Dr. Peter Meissner, Chief Executive Officer, NGMN Alliance. “Industry leaders like Brocade provide the domain expertise, insights and technology know-how to ensure we architect 5G to best support the growing ecosystem of connected devices and services while providing timely guidance to mobile industry stakeholders.”

The NGMN Alliance was founded by leading international network operators in 2006. Its objective is to ensure that the functionality and performance of next generation mobile network infrastructure, service platforms and devices will meet the requirements of operators and, ultimately, will satisfy end user demand and expectations. The NGMN Alliance will drive and guide the development of all future mobile broadband technology enhancements with a focus on 5G. The targets of these activities are suppo by the strong and well-established partnership of worldwide leading operators, vendors, universities, and successful co-operations with other industry organizations.