Communication service providers around the world are about to embark on an epic journey. A journey which has the potential to be a major game changer for hardware and software vendors alike. The simple concept of decoupling software from hardware, referred to as network functions virtualization (NFV), promises to improve an operator’s ability to differentiate themselves from the competition by moving network functions from dedicated appliances to generic commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers. This ability provides a wealth of benefits including service agility, cost reduction, and improved subscriber insight, all with vendor freedom on a future-proofed platform.

Here are five reasons why you should adopt NFV for your CPEs:

1. Eliminate vendor lock-in with agnostic, common functional software stack
This not only standardizes the user interfaces and functionality for both the subscriber and CSR, it also empowers service providers to select the best suited gateway, regardless of vendor, as the heterogeneous deployment will abstract the software functions from the physical device.

2. Standardization reduces yearly CAPEX and OPEX budgets
This includes the ability to deploy virtualized functionality where it is most valuable, cost-effective, and derives economies of scale. Server price and availability scales well, can be optimally located, rapidly deployed and upgraded; facilitating rapid scaling based on dynamically changing pressures.

3. Personalized offerings for each subscriber to improve customer quality of experience
Network functions in the virtual CPE (vCPE) can be chained in various permutations, giving flexibility over subscriber package. This could include activating select premium services like parental controls, per user quota policies within the home, or malware protection.

4. Reduce time-to-market for new service offerings
The vCPE approach enables an agile platform to create new service offerings or services without requiring an updated firmware for each gateway on your diverse network; in turn reducing the need for remote upgrades and truck rolls. This will increase revenue, reduce costs, and improve the customer experience.

5. Increase your visibility and gain new insights into subscriber QoE
The service assurance and monitoring with the traditional gateways end at the CPE. With vCPE performing DHCP functionality, operators gain greater visibility to all the connected devices on the gateway. With this increased visibility in the home, you have a better representation of the subscriber analytics which can be used to offer improved proactive care, custom packages based on usage patterns, or provide enhanced troubleshooting.

With a comprehensive virtualization solution, you can essentially hit the virtual turbo button on your legacy devices—maximizing your sunk CAPEX, enabling you to add advanced functionality to end-of-life (EOL), unsupported, legacy devices without having to modify the firmware, plus you can unlock the potential of new services unavailable on even the most advanced gateways on the market today.