BT announced it has launched a new generation of cloud-optimized managed services with the first offering based on VMware's SD-WAN technology.
VMware's VeloCloud SD-WAN technology gives customers a single view of their networks as well as a choice of management controls. Traditional wide area networking (WAN) required dedicated, proprietary vendor hardware to be installed at each customer site. BT’s new managed service is based on generic hardware that's capable of supporting a choice of software-based networking solutions from different vendors.
BT’s service is using Vmware technology for the orchestrator and software, including its cloud on ramp capability in order to deliver the service to its customers.
The VMware SD-WAN service can be managed or co-managed remotely by BT on its new digital service platform. BT is also offering its customers consultations with its experts to find the best solution to fit their needs. They can also provide advise on security to meet each customer's security requirements.
Over the past year or so, organizations have been migrating their SD-WAN services from the initial "do-it-yourself" (DIY) model to managed SD-WAN services. Other service providers, such as Orange Business Services, and Windstream, are also offering their customers white-glove managed SD-WAN services that deliver a variety of high-level service benefits, including a single pane of glass, technical consulting resources and advanced service delivery.
“Our new managed service further expands customers’ choice of software-defined networking solutions. Presently available with industry-leading VMware SD-WAN, it is delivered over our new, digital service platform," said BT's Andrew Small, director of global portfolio, in a statement. "The solution is fully supported by our consultancy services to help customers maximize the benefits of performance, agility and flexibility for their businesses."
BT didn't say what vendor, or vendors, it used to build its cloud-first, scalable network for the software-defined networking services.
Dating back several years ago, BT previously deployed SD-WAN solutions from Nuage Networks and Cisco, including Cisco IWAN and Cisco Meraki SD-WAN.
RELATED: BT adds Dell's uCPE line to its Dynamic Network Services
Earlier this year, BT added Dell Technologies' universal customer premises equipment (uCPE) to its Dynamic Network Services roster in order to offer business customers more choices. BT will offer its multinational customers Dell's Virtual Edge Platform (VEP) platform of networking-specific uCPE as a converged networking, IoT and IT application platform.
BT started offering its Dynamic Network Services portfolio several years ago to give business customers greater choice, security, resilience, service, and agility. The managed services include on-premises network functions virtualization (NFV) as well as IoT and IT applications to help customers with their digital transformations. In addition to Dell, BT has also worked with Cisco to enable its Dynamic Network Services.