CSP Commonality. Innovation and IP ownership focused on the business processes of each Communications Service Provider (CSP) and their unique applications is an additional accrued benefit to those leveraging a multi-vendor middleware solution. This benefit extends to the purchase of third-party tools for areas of commonality with other CSPs that already exist and are easily integrated with standard APS to multi-vendor middleware. As a result, it economizes internal development resources resulting in highest value work.

No tool redevelopment. An additional benefit of utilizing multi-vendor middleware might mean that adding a new transponder or coherent pluggable optic (400GZR/ZR+) to an existing network might require NO tool re-development. Moreover, if one vendor presents new functionality, it becomes common to all vendors in the multi-vendor middleware at the same time, so it can be visible when they collectively catch up to this innovation. Also, testing of existing tools could be outsourced to multi-vendor middleware providers.

Continuous Validation. For those in organizations responsible for quantifying total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI), multi-vendor middleware is highly economical as it provides continuous validation for instances like new software releases, data structure, and functionality from every vendor’s solution—even those that take place apart from CSP development cycles and resource pools.

Additionally, compare a multi-vendor middleware maintenance fee measured against the developer time and delay using self-serving continuous vendor interoperability (and validation) as old products cycle out of the network, their respective software licenses can be reused and repurposed for modern devices of the same type.

A turnkey middleware solution also provides a range of related benefits including custom development for integration to any automation, dashboard tooling, external ticketing, inventory, or orchestration any customer may want to utilize to meet their specific business requirements.

Software Defined Network Functions. A robust multi-vendor middleware can serve as a platform for internally developed or third-party tools, such as computation engine and a focus on innovation, leaving implementation to the proven experts.

Other possible outcomes include having a single unchanging API for network inventory to all vendors; a single unchanging API to monitor network health; easy integration of coherent optics into routers and open transport devices; and rapid adoption of new space and power saving long-haul transponders resulting from the continuous advancement in DSP technology and density.Other possible outcomes include having a single unchanging API for network inventory to all vendors; a single unchanging API to monitor network health; easy integration of coherent optics into routers and open transport devices; and rapid adoption of new space and power saving long-haul transponders resulting from the continuous advancement in DSP technology and density.

Doing More With Less

As global markets continue to contract with some regularity, and expand to accommodate the dynamics of multinational economic models and the continued workforce reduction realities that persist amongst technology standard bearers, it is multi-vendor middleware that can serve as both substitute and support for these reimagined and increasingly realigned resources—especially when it comes to doing more with less, and its natural extension, developing more with less.