PALO ALTO, Calif. -- HP today announced the HP FlexNetwork Utility Advantage Program enabling communication service providers (CSPs) to offer managed network solutions on a pay-per-use basis, creating new revenue opportunities without capital investment.

Enterprises spend more than 70 percent of their IT budget keeping the lights on, leaving less than 30 percent for innovation. However, they need to invest in network upgrades that support initiatives like cloud, mobility, bring your own device (BYOD) and rich media, which drive innovation and business growth.

The HP FlexNetwork Utility Advantage Program enables CSPs, in collaboration with HP, to help enterprise customers modernize their network with standard, pre-packaged networking solutions, including hardware and software, with no upfront cost. Customers then contract with the CSP for the managed network offerings they need to support initiatives that speed innovation on a pay-per-use basis.

Leveraging solutions based on the HP FlexNetwork architecture, an open, standards-based architecture that is software-defined networking (SDN) enabled, the program enables CSPs to rapidly upgrade and future-proof their customer’s network. As a result, their enterprise customers can reap the benefits of cloud, mobility and BYOD initiatives without capital investment, while freeing IT resources to focus on innovation that drives growth, as opposed to network infrastructure management.

“Cloud introduced consumption-based economics for a wide range of business applications,” said Bethany Mayer, senior vice president and general manager, Networking, HP. “HP FlexNetwork Utility Advantage Program brings these economic benefits to CSPs as they support their clients to pursue initiatives that drives growth and innovation."

Unifying wired and wireless networks for consistent user experience
CSPs leveraging the HP FlexNetwork Utility Advantage Program also can deliver a unified wired and wireless local area network (WLAN) solution for cloud services or applications, on a pay-per-use basis.

“We have seen increased enterprise adoption of cloud-managed pay-per-use wireless local area network offerings,” said Tim Zimmerman, vice president, Gartner. “We advise customers to deploy integrated wired and wireless networks with a single management application to deliver consistent services and simplify operations.”

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ)