TECHNICAL
The Disaggregation Revolution
Unlocking the Future of Broadband Networks
by Hannes Gredler, co-founder and CTO at RtBrick
The telecom industry has a habit of clinging to the familiar… decades-old legacy infrastructure run by the same handful of vendors, all betting on incremental network upgrades to keep pace with consumers’ insatiable demand for data. “This approach is reaching a breaking point! It’s time to tear up the old blueprint and embrace network disaggregation before it’s too late”, warns Hannes Gredler, co-founder and CTO at RtBrick. By dismantling the traditional, vertically integrated network model in favour of open, flexible, and scalable networks built for the digital age, telcos can finally break free from vendor lock-in. But while some operators still weigh their next move, a quiet revolution is already underway, with operators like Deutsche Telekom and WOBCOM proving that disaggregation isn’t just theory – it’s happening now!
the only way to deliver the levels of throughput required by the Internet was to build the routing systems using custom silicon and optimise the software around it. This new approach separates hardware from software, freeing operators from vendor lock-in and unlocking new levels of efficiency. Unlike traditional monolithic networks, disaggregated systems allow telcos to mix and match best-in-class components with their preferred software, much like hyperscalers do in the cloud. So, just as cloud computing revolutionised enterprise IT, cloud-native networking is redefining how telcos operate, offering agility, scalability, and, most importantly, significant cost savings.
In today’s data-driven world, the only constant is ‘more’. From streaming and gaming to AI-driven workloads and IoT, networks are being pushed to their limits. Data-hungry consumers expect the same seamless experiences they’ve been accustomed to for years while continuing to demand faster, more reliable, and cheaper services. But it’s not all about growth. On the flip side, security threats are escalating globally, from cyberattacks to geopolitical risks affecting supply chains and vendor relationships. The reality is undeniable: today’s networks aren’t built for this type of demand. The industry’s bet on the legacy model hasn’t paid off, and operators are now feeling the strain - caught between managing
increasing data consumption, rising costs, and the limitations of legacy infrastructure.
The solution? A complete shift in how we’re building networks at the edge. The move towards a cloud-native approach is arguably the most significant change we’ve seen in carrier networks since the arrival of the Internet. Essentially, this is due to the availability of new merchant silicon and white-box switches, as new vendors now have the equivalent capabilities on their high-volume, low- cost networking chips that the traditional system vendors use on the line cards in their legacy systems.
At the heart of this transformation is network disaggregation. For many years,
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Volume 47 No.1 MARCH 2025
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