Are operators virtualizing their RAN? When, and with what goals in mind? Heavy Reading surveyed over 80 global operators to gain their perspective on deploying virtualized RAN solutions. In this webinar we share the results of that survey, sponsored by Red Hat. We focus on vRAN deployment opportunities and challenges; how existing 4G RAN infrastructure and planned 5G implementations influence deployment, and how emerging container and cloud native technologies impact vRAN plans. We also examine how the operators' desire to avoid vendor lock-in may require evolving platform solutions to simplify managing and integrating multi-vendor VNFs in an NFV environment.

Key topics include:

• The VNFs operators are implementing today
• Their plans for vRAN deployment
• How these plans vary in relative to 4G and 5G roll-out
• The choices operators are making in terms of vertical versus horizontal solutions
• How the move to cloud native and containers will impact vRAN implementation.

There has been a lot of talk about the edge, but generally, the industry is still in the process of transitioning from discussing the topic at conferences to deploying it in the field. One of the challenges is ensuring that specifically designed networking hardware and software can meet the requirements of constrained environments and highly distributed architectures. Retrofitting existing networking solutions designed for large centralized data centers results in high cost, complexity and compromise. Tune into this webinar to learn about how new hardware and software innovations purpose-built for these smaller distributed environments are transforming concepts of edge compute into reality.

Join Heavy Reading analyst Jim Hodges; Pluribus Networks CMO Mike Capuano and Vice President, Product Management Alessandro Barbieri; and Red Hat's Chief Technologist for Global Service Providers Ian Hood as they review multiple innovations for wireless and wireline telco operators, MSP/CSPs and even mid-market enterprise customers that are looking to automate small- and medium-sized, single- and multi-site data centers, including highly distributed edge compute environments.

It wasn't long ago that TV was ranked by subscribers as the most important service in the bundle provided by their communications service provider (CSP). Recent research indicates that for nearly three quarters of subscribers, broadband is now the most important service. Broadcast TV is the most important service to only 15% of North American consumers, replaced by OTT video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. In addition, many different competitors are moving aggressively to stake a claim in consumers' homes.

In 2020, CSPs need to fight back by transforming their business models, which are becoming more reliant on a single source of revenue: fixed broadband services.

This webinar will focus on helping CSPs transform their business models by placing a firm focus on delivering a sensational subscriber experience and by offering compelling new services that generate value for subscribers. These actions will reinforce the CSP's strategic position in the home network and position themselves for growth in the next decade.

Key topics include:

• Being the first to market with WiFi 6 technology, in response to consumer purchases of new devices over the holidays;
• Having the insights needed to proactively resolve issues, often before your subscribers even know that there are issues;
• Providing help desk agents with the visibility they need to resolve common subscriber issues more quickly;
• Delivering a mobile app, in response to consumer demands for the ability to do some things themselves, rather than having to call technical support; and
• Addressing consumer concerns around device security, privacy and control with enhanced security and parental controls.