Equinix sees joining the fledgling OCP Telco Project as a way of ensuring vendor interoperability for emerging networking technologies.

Mitch Wagner, Executive Editor, Light Reading

February 1, 2016

2 Min Read
Equinix Looks to Future-Proof Network Through Open Computing

For Equinix, joining the Open Compute Project is a way to future-proof its network by collaborating with vendors on emerging technologies.

The Open Compute Project last week announced its launch of the OCP Telco Project, with several major operators joining, including AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE: DT), EE , SK Telecom (Nasdaq: SKM) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), as well as Equinix Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX) (See Major Telcos Join Facebook's Open Compute Project.)

Equinix believes it can offer expertise in its mainstay business -- providing interconnects between enterprise networks and multiple cloud providers, Equinix CTO Ihab Tarazi tells Light Reading.

"Our interest isn't specific technology. It's building the next-generation interconnection platform," Tarazi says. "We feel OCP is creating the platform for the next generation of interconnection that really takes the friction out of the application layer, enabling SDN, next-generation mobility, 5G, LTE and so on."

New applications such as the Internet of Things and 5G require New IP networks to ensure agility and meet customer demands. Open source groups like OCP are part of that emerging trend.

Equinix wants to see OCP promote developing an ecosystem around open source hardware and software. "We care about multiple players working together," says Tarazi. Equinix wants to ensure interoperability for interconnections and data sharing over networks supporting emerging technologies including SDN and NFV built on top of hardware and software stacks.

Find out more about key developments related to the systems and technologies deployed in data centers on Light Reading's data center infrastructure channel

The standards and specifications developed by OCP will help ensure connectivity between multiple vendors' hardware and software, Tarazi says. "Today we connect with IP protocols, which works for today," he says. But Equinix also wants to ensure compatibility for containers, security, automation and other emerging technology. "All of that is where OCP will help us."

"We want to future-proof our capabilities by collaborating with new players on the new model," Tarazi says.

Equinix says it will release more details about its plans for OCP following the group's OCP U.S. Summit 2016 in March.

— Mitch Wagner, Circle me on Google+ Follow me on TwitterVisit my LinkedIn profileFollow me on Facebook, West Coast Bureau Chief, Light Reading. Got a tip about SDN or NFV? Send it to [email protected].

About the Author(s)

Mitch Wagner

Executive Editor, Light Reading

San Diego-based Mitch Wagner is many things. As well as being "our guy" on the West Coast (of the US, not Scotland, or anywhere else with indifferent meteorological conditions), he's a husband (to his wife), dissatisfied Democrat, American (so he could be President some day), nonobservant Jew, and science fiction fan. Not necessarily in that order.

He's also one half of a special duo, along with Minnie, who is the co-habitor of the West Coast Bureau and Light Reading's primary chewer of sticks, though she is not the only one on the team who regularly munches on bark.

Wagner, whose previous positions include Editor-in-Chief at Internet Evolution and Executive Editor at InformationWeek, will be responsible for tracking and reporting on developments in Silicon Valley and other US West Coast hotspots of communications technology innovation.

Beats: Software-defined networking (SDN), network functions virtualization (NFV), IP networking, and colored foods (such as 'green rice').

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