DriveNets software will be deployed in KDDI’s commercial backbone network in 2025 to support the growing data demands of the AI era
KDDI Corporation and DriveNets Ltd. signed a basic agreement for a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of open network architecture (i.e., the separation of hardware and software). This agreement aims to expand the deployment of disaggregated routers, improve the management efficiency of these routers, and optimize the capital investment and operating costs of high-scale network deployments.
Based on the agreement, KDDI will start the deployment of DriveNets Network Cloud solution in backbone core routers at four key locations with the goal of reaching commercial operations by the end of 2025.
Looking ahead, both companies will work together to build a flexible network architecture that can quickly adapt to changing market conditions and technological advancements, in order to meet the growing data demands of the AI era.
Background
- With the rapid spread and adoption of AI technologies in recent years, the demand for network infrastructure has been rising sharply. Going forward, even greater traffic volumes and increasingly diverse needs are anticipated. Open network architecture is becoming increasingly important in building networks that can respond swiftly to such changes. This approach facilitates new features based on specific requirements and helps improve network scalability.
- Since 2020, KDDI has been pushing forward the development of Cluster-Based Distributed Disaggregated Backbone Routers (DDBR), which are not bound by physical chassis constraints and allow for flexible capacity expansion, through the Telecom Infra Project*1, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote disaggregated routers. In June 2023, KDDI completed the commercial deployment of DDBR standalone as peering routers at its internet gateway*2, and by February 2025, it had completed technical validation for DDBR cluster as core routers in its backbone network*3.
- DriveNets provides software-based network solutions optimized for disaggregated routers that many leading global carriers have adopted. The peering routers that KDDI deployed commercially in June 2023 are also based on DriveNets’ software. Building on the software’s proven contribution to network operational stability, the two companies have now entered this strategic partnership.
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Company Comments
Kazuyuki Yoshimura, Senior Managing Executive Officer, CTO, General Manager of Core Technology Sector, KDDI Corporation: “We are delighted to have signed the basic agreement for the strategic partnership with DriveNets. Since 2020, we at KDDI have been committed to achieving open and scalable networks, and we believe our collaboration with DriveNets will create significant new innovations. Our vision for the future is to build a flexible and robust architecture suited to the AI era, allowing us to swiftly respond to the evolving market needs and set new industry standards.”
Ido Susan, CEO, DriveNets Ltd.: “We are honored to become a strategic partner of KDDI, one of the world’s leading telecommunications carriers. Together with KDDI, we will promote openness, disaggregation, and innovation across the entire network – from the core network to the edge and aggregation layers. By streamlining network operations and introducing automation and generative AI tools, we aim to help KDDI enhance the efficiency of its network and build a resilient architecture that can flexibly meet future demands.”
Source: PRNewswire