Create new market segment - DevOps - Release Automation solution for SDN/NFV

SDN/ NFV may not be new with next gen Telco’s and Data centers but by 2016 it is certainly going to be the new beast in DevOps space. It’s a multi-million dollar virgin market, so it’s not only those traditional OEMs are in the fray even the DB companies will be entering this new market. Telco’s and Data center wants a vendor agnostic network devices and are expected to replace all physical devices including those routers and switches with software devices. This not only drastically brings down the PCB replacement costs and other maintenance charges but the latest release automation tools and technology of DevOps will do radical changes by reducing the overall current service provisioning time from 4-5 months to few hours. In the near future the network administration may not require to have niche skill sets to manage large networks because the latest zero touch release automation technology with GUI based orchestration dashboard will do the network configuration. Traditionally Telco’s are over staffed so RA on SDN/NFV may not be a pure technology play rather it leads to people and process related issues, so the software integration (SI) vendors with innovative product/ solution will be the key in implementing the DevOps solution.  The scope is just not limited to configuring those south bound virtual software devices but also open the doors for developing the new SDN/NFV applications to fulfill the ever growing market needs but need to wait and watch that market because Telco’s may choose to do that in-house development or may even open the doors to public in similar to the current mobile Apps development but proactive SI vendors may develop host of SDN/NFV apps to package it along with OEM controllers. So far the only challenge is that the RA is very successful on application layer but yet to be tried on network layer. In essence the opportunities are enormous because the RA for SDN/NFV is just an engine and it can be fitted to any vehicles including VLAN provisioning, Virtual management of Firewalls, Network functionalities management and finally since the devices are no more going to be physical there will be desperate need to manage the software versions of these equipment’s. This industry will undergo a paradigm shift and tremendous cultural change because the traditional OEM’s can’t continue as a pure equipment manufacturer anymore and their sales team needs to acquire new skills to package services along with their controllers and other devices to sustain in the competing market. The ISVs and product vendors may have to reconsider the agency based pricing model to compete with openstack because RA for SDN/NFV are expected to configure 100’s of south bound software devices on the fly by a touch of the button. The technology adoption might get delayed slightly but it’s a sure multi-million dollar market and its a zero sum game, so the early mover will sweep the market. Telco’s and Data centers need to be an early adopter or at least a fast follower to sustain. I see the market potential and the compelling value proposition for Telcos and Data centers to buy these solution but mysteriously we are yet to see that level of traction among the SI vendors and the industry at large, may be because the network is behind the wall in the background and not so obviously visible :-) but I believe its not so early to create this new market segment.