AT&T, Orange and TIM are co-sponsoring a new vendor project aimed at developing speedier innovation within virtual networks.

The Joint Agile Development (JAD) catalyst project, which was announced at this year’s TM Forum conference in France, comprises Huawei, IBM, IT services provider Infosys, test and measurement company Spirent and IT solutions provider Tech Mahindra.

JAD’s aim is to demonstrate how network functions virtualisation and open interfaces can enable faster and better service innovation while deploying fewer resources, the companies said.

They added they wanted to meet operators’ desire to deliver rapid service innovation, and streamline and automate its processes through enhanced virtual network functions deployed onto their networks.

Spirent said it was supporting the catalyst project by providing fully automated validation of virtual network functions on-boarding, as well as validating end-to-end service layer performance.

Its VisionWorks service assurance controller integrates with other components of the JAD platform through an open framework. It “passes” virtual network functions by putting them through an automised test before deployment.

Sean Yarborough, Senior Director of Marketing for Spirent’s Lifecycle Service Assurance segment, said: “Working with the JAD team, we have shown how virtualization and open interfaces can be leveraged to design, validate and deploy service enhancements dramatically faster.

“The VisonWorks service assurance controller extends beyond simple test automation, integrating with workflow management systems to completely automate VNF and end-to-end service validation. With VisionWorks, providers can move past legacy testing processes that last weeks or months to automated validation that takes minutes.”

Elsewhere at the event, an HPE executive warned it was people and a lack of skills, rather than technology, that could hinder the ultimate potential of virtualisation.

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