AT&T is greatly expanding the availability of the software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) offering it introduced last year in the United States. The AT&T SD-WAN international expansion will make the technology available in more than 150 countries and territories, the company said.
“Managing connectivity should be simple. We know businesses want to customize their networks as their needs evolve and technology changes. Our AT&T SD-WAN – Network Based solution delivers flexibility and scalability to help businesses optimize and align network performance, functions and costs,” said Roman Pacewicz, the chief product officer of AT&T Business, in a press release. “We can bring everything together edge-to-edge – from end points, to connectivity, to the cloud – wrapped in security.”
AT&T SD-WAN International Expansion
AT&T’s SD-WAN—Network Based offering enables companies to manage multiple sites with varying levels of reliability, performance and bandwidth while maintaining Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) features. AT&T VPN sites, Internet Protocol security sites and SD-WAN sites can be consolidated in a single VPN. This enables technology to be adopted at a customer’s desired pace. AT&T’s FlexWare platform can provide a universal CPE. The platform can be paired with AT&T’s NetBond for the Cloud.
A recent study by IDC highlighted the motivating factors behind the growing adoption of SD-WAN. The study found that bandwidth optimization (at 36%), consistent application security (31%), integration with existing WANs (28%) and improved automation and self-provisioning (also 28%) were seen as motivators by survey respondents.
AT&T is one of numerous network operators — including CenturyLink, Verizon, Vonage, Windstream, Zayo and others that have launched SD-WAN offerings. Network operators see SD-WAN as one of their most promising growth applications. Windstream CEO Tony Thomas said last year that SD-WANs constitute 20% of the company’s gross sales to enterprises despite being launched relatively recently. Thomas said that Windstream’s SD-WAN initiative is “the most successful launch I’ve ever been a part of.”
