Future proofing Today’s Modern Network

 

Network operators have long touted the quality and reliability of their networks as their key differentiators and the reason a customer should choose them over a competitor. And that makes sense, because the network and its ability to connect the end user to the world at large are, ultimately, what they’re selling.

 

But networks are expensive to build and maintain, and just as important, to upgrade and evolve as the needs and expectations of their users evolve. Physical networks are comprised of vast amounts of hardware – from servers, towers and switches at one end to routers, extenders and antennae at the other – with miles of fiber and other conduits in between. Keeping up with the pace of innovation of the services and applications that run on the network means having to continually invest in new hardware from one end to the other, and that takes time and money.  

 

Network management is also a crucial part of the network equation. It’s essential for maintaining a secure and efficient network infrastructure that supports a company's operations and helps the company achieve its business objectives. Effective network management also enables organizations to proactively address service issues, optimize network performance, and ensure the integrity and availability of all network resources.

 

To keep up with the pace of innovation and to manage their networks in the most efficient way, many operators are turning to software-defined networking (SDN).

Shaping the future of broadband connectivity 

 

Rather than relying on traditional hardware-based network devices like routers and switches, SDN solutions use software-based controllers or applications to control and manage the networking infrastructure. This gives operators greater control over their networks, increased network flexibility and agility, the ability to automate the network, and better overall network management efficiency. 

 

SDN separates the control plane from the data plane in networking, making the network programmable and allowing for more flexible, scalable and dynamic network management. SDN’s centralized network control, automation capabilities, and programmability enable network administrators to adjust network configurations as needed and deploy new services and solutions faster than on a physical network, and with lower capital and operating costs. 

 

SDN also allows for real-time, cloud-based network orchestration to optimize network performance, proactively address service issues, ensure the integrity and availability of all network resources, and deliver a superior customer-first experience. 

 

AXON Networks has been investing in software-defined networking technology for over ten years because it readily adapts to the evolving needs of modern businesses and provides a foundation for innovative networking technologies and services. That’s key to AXON Networks’ mission and our focus on helping ISPs evolve from being simply service providers to providers of a total networking experience for their customers. With our investment in SDN, AXON Networks has built end-to-end services platforms for some of the world’s largest ISPs and shipped several hundred million routers and other networking technology to customers globally.

 

“Not only does software-defined networking give operators the ability to manage and grow their networks faster and easier, it also helps them differentiate themselves in a crowded competitive landscape,” says Siddhartha Dattagupta, Chief Technology Officer at AXON Networks. “As broadband networking continues to move fast towards a service-centric deployment and operational model, the complexity related to this demands the applied principles of SDN as an inevitable requirement. AXON Networks is committed to driving the simplicity of networking and, more importantly, shaping the future of broadband connectivity. SDN is foundational to both those efforts.” 

 

AXON Orchestrator, AXON Network’s unique software platform, is where the elements of the network, including software-defined networking technology, come together for comprehensive network visibility and real-time management.

 

Embedded within AXON Orchestrator is our vEdge solution. vEdge enables operators to virtualize their infrastructure and extract, process and act on vast amounts of network data in real time.

 

“vEdge and AXON Orchestrator are where AXON Networks delivers on the promise of software-defined networking,” says Sid. 

 

Network operators of all sizes around the world are motivated to using SDN and the flexible, scalable, real-time orchestration capabilities it enables to integrate and manage technologies and solutions across all their networks, including fiber, DSL, cable and FWA. That’s allowing them to build a competitive advantage and innovate faster without investing vast sums of money.

 

AXON Networks routers bring SDN to the end user

Software-defined networking manages the actual networking infrastructure, but it’s AXON Networks’ next-generation routers that bring the power of SDN into the end user’s home. 

 

People are connecting more devices than ever within the home – laptops, smartphones, streaming video services, gaming systems, and IoT and smart home devices – and they need reliable connectivity that can keep pace with their lifestyle. AXON Networks offers a large portfolio of world-class, high-speed routers that empower ISPs to deliver the best quality of service. Our routers feature the latest technologies, deliver the highest performance, and are currently deployed in ten percent of U.S. broadband households. More than that, our routers look good! We believe that “design changes behavior”, and that routers can not only deliver the performance the end user expects, but they can also look good doing it.

“We focus on the design and user experience because it's just as important that a router look good as well as deliver outstanding technical performance,” says Sid.

 

AXON Networks is shaping the future of broadband connectivity through our innovative SDN solutions, our unique real-time network orchestration platform, and state-of-the-art routers. Emerging technologies like Wi-Fi 7 are poised to advance home broadband networking even further.

 

No other company is more experienced and well positioned to deliver scalable, secure tailor-made solutions than AXON Networks.

 

“For us, it’s about more than being a networking provider,” says Sid. “We work hand-in-hand with ISPs to transform their networks and business models to provide a total networking experience to their customers.”