TECHNICAL
Meanwhile, web-scale, modular and composable code significantly impacts carrier networks by offering enhanced flexibility, scalability and efficiency, which are key requirements as networks evolve to meet growing demand. They enable operators to break down complex systems into smaller, more manageable components that can be updated, replaced, or scaled independently. How does network disaggregation work? Telecom networks have remained essentially unchanged for decades, built on monolithic chassis-based router systems. These systems relied on fabric cards, core line cards, and access line cards, all housed within a single vendor-
What is network disaggregation?
laid the groundwork by shifting network intelligence from proprietary hardware to software-driven control planes. This introduced programmability and automation, but network disaggregation takes this further by separating hardware from software whilst still integrating with merchant silicon - ensuring operators get scale and performance but are no longer dependent on a single vendor’s ecosystem. On the hardware side, high-performance bare-metal switches built on the latest merchant silicon have played a key role in enabling disaggregation. These are built on the latest merchant silicon, which is more cost-effective than Application- Specific Integrated Circuit chips (IC). They also provide more power efficiency, reusability and security.
Network disaggregation breaks apart the traditional, vertically integrated network model. It decouples hardware from software components, allowing operators to build customised, high-performance networks using best-in-class solutions from multiple vendors. This approach breaks the chains of vendor lock-in, fostering a more open and competitive ecosystem where telcos have the freedom to create a network tailored to their own needs.
However, the concept isn’t entirely new. Software-defined networking
(SDN), a software-controlled approach to networking architecture driven by application programming interfaces (APIs),
MARCH 2025 Volume 47 No.1
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