Impact of SDN and NFV on the Connectivity Network
Anthony Magee, ADVA

NFV and SDN are two disruptive technologies, targeted at increasing network flexibility and accelerating service provisioning while announcing reduced overall cost. Network operators appreciate these promises and in addition consider NFV as a means for faster service innovation. 
Those innovative technologies were initially applied in data centres for increasing flexibility of resource allocation. Transport SDN responds to the fast changes of bandwidth demand by dynamically allocating network capacity in a highly automated way.
Network Function Virtualization (NFV) adds an additional possibility for cost saving by replacing dedicated hardware-based functions with software running on standard servers. The servers might be allocated in data canters but could also be operated in network demarcation devices at the edge of the network. A phased approach starting with centralised servers and extending towards edge servers promises to be an efficient way for seamless NFV introduction.
The presentation is looking at presently applied technologies for connecting data centers. It explores the benefit of Transport SDN as a technology which favourably meets the need for fast allocation of connectivity resources. It extends in showing how standard servers can be used to replace dedicated hardware by software (Network Function Virtualization) and outlines the impact of this transition on the connectivity network.