The explosive growth in data traffic, the proliferation of “smart devices,” the need for new services that support these devices and the analytics of data are driving communications service providers to transform the network, evidenced by the increasing number of network function virtualization (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN) deployments, two technologies at the center of the future 5G network.
5G network architecture needs to support a diverse set of services, devices, applications, and resource requirements. The industry is aware of the demands and the necessary transformation that has to take place to be ready for the 5G future network infrastructure, and has identified technical training as a key requirement to deployment of future technologies. The Intel® Network Builders program continues to help with this preparation through technology-enabling efforts with the ecosystem.
The Intel Network Builders Fast Track program is specifically focused on accelerating technology optimizations, developing ecosystem solution use cases, and the interoperability that is critical for mass scale deployments. In particular, our efforts around technology optimizations include scaling training to the entire ecosystem, ensuring that the packet processing and security ingredients that are critical for a high-performance network are integrated into various products and solutions in an efficient and optimal manner, guaranteeing faster time to deployments.
Last year, we did focused training sessions with some of our strategic partners, including Telekom Austria Group:
“Moving NFV beyond pilots into broader production requires properly training Network operations, planners and IT teams on new NFV principles and environments. Telekom Austria Group and Intel partnered to create customized curriculum and deliver Intel sessions explaining Virtualization, Cloud and open source NFV platform. This helped Telekom Austria Group in 6 countries to prepare for NFV rollout,” said Dr. Wolfgang Fleischer, Head of NFV and IMS Services, COO Area, IT & Cloud, Telekom Austria Group.
Now we are taking what we’ve learned from the focused training sessions and are launching a larger program: Intel® Network Builders University.
Intel Network Builders University is a comprehensive network infrastructure and network transformation training program encompassing 5G, NFV, SDN, mobile edge computing (MEC), and traditional legacy networks, as well as specific training on the Intel technologies driving the advancements in the industry. It caters to any professional wanting to learn more about these topics, and it also offers additional training opportunities for Intel Network Builders partners and end users, through an easy-to-use website with additional in-person, hands-on workshops as well as technical webinars.
Training courses for the general public are available from the main Intel Network Builders home page. The materials there are all publically available information and require the user to register and create a Network Builders University account. Intel Network Builders partners can also log in an access additional materials in the member portal.
It is a critical time for our industry as we march towards the transformation of the network, and prepare the world for 5G and the increased potential of connectedness it will offer. You can access the available educational content on the new Intel network Builders University webpage.