The Broadband Forum has issued the latest update to its Open Broadband – Broadband Access Abstraction open-source project, OB-BAA Release 3.0. The standard aims to ease migration to interoperable cloud-based access networks.

According to the Broadband Forum, release 3.0 builds on previous releases of the OB-BAA code distributions. Those distributions enable operators to utilize their traditional management systems in co-existence with Software-Defined Networking (SDN) enabled management and control systems. In doing so, the newest release enables operators to manage Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) based Access Nodes via the vendor’s adapters, which should accelerate migration to SDN-based automation platforms.

The BAA layer also provides an IP Flow Information Export (IPFIX) data collector for use with Access Nodes that support Broadband Forum’s TR-383 standard for PM data collection, which enables operators to obtain and monitor data from access nodes.

With this access, operators can efficiently and cost-effectively monitor and improve network performance and modify information within the network to change device behavior, opening up new possibilities for enhanced service assurance, the forum said. Notification capabilities are also improved to allow for subscriptions for notifications, enabling operators to effectively monitor network events such as failures or alarms.

Additionally, release 3.0 adds service assurance capabilities for collecting performance monitoring (PM) data and translating the information into standardized YANG data models, including storage of the data into a common data lake.

“Release 3.0 of OB-BAA is a major step that enables monitoring of both legacy and new networks from a single centralized SDN platform,” said Francisco De Carvalho, BT senior specialist of comms provider interconnectivity, in a prepared statement. “By taking operators’ SNMP access nodes and putting them into a standardized, common YANG format, operators have the flexibility to leverage their existing SDN management and control systems in a cloud-based environment to open up new, enhanced service assurance capabilities. Not only does this further facilitate migration to next-generation networks for an increased number of operators, it provides them with the means to provide service assurance capabilities without overhauling their existing infrastructure.”