Operational, organizational and business challenges for network operators in the context of SDN and NFV

Traditional operators deploy and operate telecom networks that rely on monolithic network elements that incorporate distinct network functions and implemented with a vertical integration of control and data planes. This mode of operation is transitioning towards a new situation where the control plane is separated from the data plane, and the network functions are no longer tightly bound to specific elements in the network. The two paradigms pushing in that direction are Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV). This paper presents a number of challenges that traditional network operators must adapt to during this transition. We categorize these challenges using three important dimensions for telecom operators: operation, organization and business.