“Openness” is one of the critical requirements for Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), a telecom initiative in which network functions are virtualized and run on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. Open solutions significantly increase the number of software suppliers, which in turn increases the rate of innovation.

By adopting an open strategy for their NFV architecture, telecom equipment manufacturers (TEMs) can develop new solutions faster, while lowering development costs.

In addition, as network infrastructures transform to keep pace with the rapid increase in data traffic from new user behavior and new connections for the Internet of Things (IoT), employing a pragmatic open NFV strategy can facilitate improved capital and operational efficiencies, reducing total cost of ownership.