In a move to better handle the immense growth in data traffic, local telco StarHub will upgrade its core and access networks using what is known as software-defined networking (SDN) technology.
This forms part of StarHub’s aim to enhance its network operational capabilities, enabling the company to better respond to its corporate customers’ business needs as well as to support Singapore’s Smart Nation initiatives.
The telecommunications industry and telecom operators, facing tremendous data traffic increase, require a more efficient way to plan and manage their networks, as well as to create and deliver services in a rapid, flexible and innovative way. SDN promises to help them do that as it allows system administrators to quickly provision network connections using software instead of having to manually configuring policies.
Emerging technologies like cloud computing, Internet of Things, and big data analytics as well as trends like over-the-top (OTT) providers offering content directly to end-users and people’s increasing demand for mobility and more bandwidth, are all contributing to the explosive data traffic growth.
Mock Pak Lum, StarHub’s chief technology officer, said on Tuesday: “Our enterprise business has been growing steadily in the past few years, and is expected to become our second largest revenue contributor in the near future.
“To accelerate our growth, among other things we need to enhance the efficiency of our network with SDN, to improve our ability to deliver bandwidth dynamically and rapidly offer customisable solutions to our corporate customers, helping them realise productivity, flexibility and innovation benefits.”
