AT&T detailed more specifics for its Domain 2.0 initiative, which aims to virtualize the carrier’s network.
AT&T said Ericsson, Tail-F Systems AB, and Metaswitch Networks LTD have been selected to begin further discussions on design and deployment of a software-based network artchitecture.
In addition, Affirmed Networks, Inc., has been chosen to work with AT&T on a virtualized Evolved Packet Core (EPC), and AT&T has tapped Ericsson to work on integration and transformation services.
The company said it will announce further vendor partners through the end of 2014.
The news follows on AT&T’s annoucement last year that it would be opening the door to a new set of vendors as it looks to virtualize its network.
The User-Defined Network Cloud is integrated through AT&T’s Wide Area Network (WAN) and utilizes Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networks (SDN), as well as modern architectural and operational approaches.
Specifically, AT&T has said the advances will drive improved time-to-revenue;Enabling new growth services and apps; Help ensure network security, performance and reliability; Facilitate new business and revenue models.
The program builds on Doman 1.0, which AT&T established in 2009. AT&T defines domains as “areas of the future network bounded by a particular technology set, such as wireless access.”