More than 40 service and technology companies have participated in MEF’s LSO Sonata-related standardization, implementation, and certification activities
MEF18 – Los Angeles, 30 October 2018 – MEF is pleased to announce the immediate availability of LSO (Lifecycle Service Orchestration) Sonata API technical specifications and Software Development Kits (SDKs) in a Developer Release for serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering. The LSO Sonata APIs based on the specifications enable, for the first time in history, automation of the potential $250+ billion market for MEF-defined services across all service providers on a global basis. The Developer Release gives industry players a head-start in implementing these groundbreaking APIs for inter-provider orchestration of current and emerging MEF 3.0 services (e.g., Carrier Ethernet, IP, SD-WAN, Optical Transport, security, and other virtualized services).
LSO Sonata API Standardization
LSO Sonata API standardization is being conducted within the context of the MEF 3.0 Global Services Framework and is part of a broader effort to standardize multiple sets of LSO APIs enabling service automation across multiple providers and over multiple network technology domains. LSO Sonata APIs relate to the interface reference point within the LSO Reference Architecture that supports business-to-business interactions between service providers. The full suite of planned LSO Sonata APIs will deal with serviceability, product inventory, quoting, ordering, trouble ticketing, contracts, and billing.
“The LSO Sonata Developer Release celebrated this week at MEF18 involves technical specifications and SDKs with the progression towards standardization related to serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering APIs,” said Nan Chen, President, MEF. “We are delighted to advance the LSO Sonata API standardization with an eye toward production deployments for inter-provider orchestration of MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet services starting in early 2019. We appreciate the dedication of key contributors who have been working hard to meet aggressive development targets. Further advancements to the set of LSO Sonata APIs will include support for the full range of MEF 3.0 services without changing the basic API structure itself thanks to the polymorphic approach used in collaboration with ONAP and TM Forum.”
The four LSO Sonata technical specifications related to serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering cover business requirements, use cases, and attributes that serve as the basis for the associated LSO Sonata API SDKs and data models.
Each SDK includes an API developer guide, a Swagger data model, and other artifacts that enable a developer to rapidly build out these Sonata LSO APIs within their business systems. The four LSO Sonata SDKs currently available on the MEF public GitHub allow service providers and business system vendors to start developing their use of the LSO Sonata APIs for serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering.
LSO Sonata API Implementation
Many companies who have contributed to development of LSO Sonata and other LSO APIs have participated in Proof of Concept (PoC) demonstrations throughout the past year and used these experiences to provide input into API development. Many of the 18 PoC demonstrations showcased at MEF18 this week in Los Angeles involve inter-provider service orchestration leveraging pre-standard versions of LSO Sonata APIs.
MEF 3.0 LSO Sonata API Certification
The MEF 3.0 certification program for service providers and technology solution providers will be expanded on a pilot basis in 1Q 2019 to include cloud-based testing of LSO APIs, beginning with certification of LSO Sonata APIs for serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering. For the first time, service providers will be able to test both the wholesale service (e.g., Access E-Line) that is being ordered along with the controlling LSO Sonata APIs, offering what MEF refers to as a “certified, orchestrated MEF service.” Technology providers, such as BSS companies, can opt to test and certify LSO Sonata APIs only.
Key Participants in LSO Sonata Standardization & Demonstrations
More than 40 service and technology companies have contributed to or supported the MEF LSO Sonata standardization and certification effort, participated in MEF 3.0 LSO Sonata implementation work, and/or participated in the LSO Sonata-related PoCs at MEF18. These companies include:
Service & Interconnection Providers
Technology & Testing Companies
Roman Pacewicz, Chief Product Officer, AT&T Business
“This is a significant industry milestone. We’re proud of our leadership role working with MEF and other technology leaders to increase automation and reduce friction. Software-defined networking and network function virtualization continue to revolutionize how we create and manage networks and services. As we expand from the network to the edge, businesses around the globe will greatly benefit from MEF 3.0 services that will help deliver a seamless experience.”
Mirko Voltolini, Global Head of Network on Demand, Colt Technology Services
“This release marks a significant milestone towards the adoption of a single common language across service providers for ordering and delivering services on each other’s networks. The availability of the new LSO Sonata API Developer Release enables us to extend the success of our on demand connectivity service portfolio to a much larger geographical coverage and bring significant benefits to our customer user experience. After the initial bilateral trials based on pre-standard APIs we at Colt are actively working with a number of partners to implement the new release in our production networks. Standardization enables us to simplify, scale and remove the cost of adoption. This is a huge achievement we are proud to be driving!”
Laurent Leboucher, Vice President Architecture, Enablers and Security, Orange
“Within Orange, we are proud to contribute to this new standard. The MEF LSO Sonata APIs based on TM Forum Open APIs are a cornerstone to develop on-demand cross carrier network services and create a global software connectivity platform for our enterprise & carrier customers.”
Rosemary Cochran, Principal Analyst & Co-Founder, Vertical Systems Group
“The top business driver for service providers migrating to new dynamic network offerings is the ability to provision services faster and more efficiently for their customers, according to results of the 2018 MEF-Vertical Systems Group survey. Standardized LSO Sonata APIs help service providers achieve this goal by automating the business-to-business interactions that take place in multi-provider environments. From our survey, the two most important benefits of implementing LSO Sonata APIs are to reduce the time from serviceability to activation and to improve quality of experience for customers.”
About MEF
An industry association of 200+ member companies, MEF has introduced the MEF 3.0 transformational global services framework for defining, delivering, and certifying assured services orchestrated across a global ecosystem of automated networks. MEF 3.0 services are designed to provide an on-demand, cloud-centric experience with user- and application-directed control over network resources and service capabilities. MEF 3.0 services are delivered over automated, virtualized, and interconnected networks powered by LSO, SDN, and NFV. MEF produces service specifications, LSO frameworks, open LSO APIs, software-driven reference implementations, and certification programs. MEF 3.0 work will enable automated delivery of standardized Carrier Ethernet, Optical Transport, IP, SD-WAN, and Layer 4-7 services across multiple provider networks. For more information: https://www.mef.net.
About MEF18
MEF18 focuses on enabling agile, assured, and orchestrated communications services for the digital economy. MEF has a target audience of 1,000+ attendees from 275+ companies and 35+ countries; 250+ service and technology executives; 120 expert speakers, 125+ sponsors and partners; and more. MEF18’s content, networking, and special activities are designed to appeal to executives and other senior experts from communication and cloud service providers; enterprises; government organizations; network technology suppliers; systems integrators, open source projects, standards organizations; industry and financial analysts; investors; the press; and others. For more information: https://www.MEF18event.com.
Additional News at MEF18
Media Contact:
Ashley Schulte
Witz Communications for MEF
ashley@witzcommunications.com