How’s the new year treating you so far? We’re starting 2018 off strong by heading to Miami next week to discuss SD-WAN, edge computing, 5G and other next-gen technologies at Metro Connect. Starting January 29, we’ll join 275+ metro fiber providers, financial services companies and other industry players to brainstorm on everything metro — from subsea connections and content delivery networks to M&A predictions and the aforementioned technologies that are creating ripples in the market.
We’re especially looking forward to the “Understanding How SD-WAN Is Changing the Next Generation of Metro Networks” panel. In fact, we’ve predicted and now recognize the significant impact SD-WAN is having on the space, and we’re excited to announce partnerships with two innovative companies in the space — 128 Technology and Silver Peak — for the deployment of SD-WAN-based solutions. (We talk more about those partnerships and Metro Connect in this JSA TV video.)
Here are a few key metro networking trends we’re seeing and would love to discuss at the show:
- SD-WAN: One of the questions the aforementioned panel will address is this: “How universal will SD-WAN become in the enterprise service market?” IDC estimated last year that SD-WAN sales would skyrocket at a 69% CAGR over the next five years, ultimately reaching more than $8 billion in 2021, Network World reported. According to SDxCentral, a recent study from Cato Networks predicted a 200% year-over-year jump in the SD-WAN adoption rate within the global enterprise market.
With network challenges on the rise and flexibility, control and cost-effective pricing in demand, SD-WAN is the obvious solution for many enterprises.
- Edge Computing/Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC): On a similar note of improving efficiencies to address data deluge, service providers’ move toward edge computing and MEC is helping metro networks scale and operate more smoothly. For end users, the benefit is clear — lower latency — and for IoT workloads, it’s a game changer. The MEC applications are broader than just 5G these days (hence the name change from mobile edge computing) — but 5G will no doubt take up a good bit of the Metro Connect conversation.
- 5G: Speaking of, Metro Connect will delve into the practical steps needed to make 5G a reality by 2020, addressing preparation, timelines and more. We’re all waiting with bated breath for the benefits 5G will bring — namely, incredible speed and vast reach — but there are still many details to finalize. With Tier 1 service providers in the news lately with 5G projections, this one is especially timely.
- Virtual Customer Premises Equipment (vCPE): Another stop on the software train, vCPE goes hand in hand with SD-WAN, NFV and other virtualization technologies. Like so many other trends in telecom, the goal is to reduce costs and increase agility, and vCPE is yet another tool for achieving those objectives in metro networks.
As an IT consulting and staffing firm, we’re always on the lookout for the best industry conferences where we can share and bolster our expertise on the latest telecom technology developments. Here’s to a 2018 full of many productive conferences & conversations!
If you’d like to set aside a few minutes to chat with us at the show, let us know here We’d love to hear from you. If you’d rather stop by our meeting area during Metro Connect, you can find us in one of the meeting spaces outside the conference room.
