DriveNets sees real potential in helping cable virtualize the core

DriveNets exec Hillel Kobrinsky says cable ops are at the start of a journey to rebuilding the network by virtualizing the core. Comcast, a DriveNets partner, is taking an important step that way via its 'Janus' initiative.

Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor

October 3, 2024

Virtualization is starting to mean something new to the cable industry. After initially focusing virtualization efforts on the access network, operators are now starting to apply more of that attention to the core network.

Comcast appears to be on the forefront of that industry trend with the recent reveal of "Janus," an initiative aimed at virtualizing the operator's core network and introducing new, AI and machine learning (ML)-driven automation capabilities. Comcast's new approach is initially being tested in Atlanta, home to last week's SCTE TechExpo. The plan is to eventually have Janus support Comcast's full core network and use that deployment to boost overall network reliability and performance.

In addition to using a "white box" platform from UfiSpace, Comcast is also using network cloud software developed by DriveNets that handles the routing functions.

Light Reading connected with Hillel Kobrinsky, co-founder and chief strategy officer, at the show to discuss the Comcast deployment and the work the company has underway with other cable operators.

He described virtualization as a "journey" that aims to help operators effectively rebuild their network.

The mission, Kobrinsky explained, is to take "existing, complex networks and turn them into something that is more like the cloud networks … It's virtualized, it's automated, programmable."

Here's a snapshot of what was covered (click the closed captioning button in the player for a lightly edited transcript):

  • What role DriveNets is playing in Comcast's Janus project (00:33)

  • What are some of the key changes and benefits that virtualization brings to the core network (01:50)

  • How DriveNets is connecting with the cable industry, particularly with Tier-1 network operators (03:22)

  • Virtualizing the core is a journey, so how far into that journey is the cable industry? (05:15)

About the Author

Jeff Baumgartner

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Jeff Baumgartner is a Senior Editor for Light Reading and is responsible for the day-to-day news coverage and analysis of the cable and video sectors. Follow him on X and LinkedIn.

Baumgartner also served as Site Editor for Light Reading Cable from 2007-2013. In between his two stints at Light Reading, he led tech coverage for Multichannel News and was a regular contributor to Broadcasting + Cable. Baumgartner was named to the 2018 class of the Cable TV Pioneers.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like