US-based Nextlink Deploys Virtual Broadband Network Gateway to Upgrade Communications Networks Across 11 States

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 27, US rural broadband operator Nextlink Internet deployed netElastic's virtual broadband network gateway (vBNG), carrier-grade network address translation (CGNAT), and the netVision network management platform across its broadband network to advance the upgrade of its hybrid fixed wireless and fiber access network. The systems are now in live operation in Texas, carrying network traffic for Tarana fixed wireless access sites. Nextlink's service footprint covers 11 US states with approximately 100,000 existing subscribers, and the company will continue migrating its legacy network equipment.

The system deployed in Texas uses a high-availability architecture, with the virtual broadband network gateway and carrier-grade address translation functions integrated into Nextlink's existing network. The new platform handles subscriber traffic processing for fixed wireless access sites and operates alongside the existing fiber broadband network. The deployment covers the Tarana wireless access environment currently in use, with subsequent migration to proceed in phases.

The network platform runs on standard Dell x86 servers, and Nextlink is shifting the virtual broadband network gateway and address translation functions from dedicated network appliances to software-based deployment. The software interfaces provided by netElastic already support subscriber provisioning and related operational management processes and can integrate with Nextlink's existing business systems, without requiring custom middleware development for the relevant interfaces.

Nextlink has also adopted the netVision management platform, which together with the vBNG and CGNAT forms the network operations management system. The operator is evaluating a more distributed edge network architecture and plans to adjust the deployment location of broadband gateway functions so that some network processing capacity can be placed at nodes closer to the subscriber access end. This part remains in the architecture evaluation and subsequent migration planning stage.