SDN - NFV for Telecom Core Network

The telecommunications industry is rapidly transforming from traditional hardware-centric network architectures toward highly flexible, software-driven, and virtualized infrastructures. Technologies such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) have become fundamental pillars in the modernization of telecom core networks, enabling operators to improve scalability, agility, automation, service delivery, and operational efficiency.

This comprehensive 12-day training program is designed to provide participants with in-depth knowledge and practical competencies in SDN and NFV technologies specifically applied to telecom core network environments. The course combines theoretical understanding with practical implementation concepts to help telecom professionals understand how next-generation networks are designed, virtualized, orchestrated, managed, and secured.

The training begins with an overview of traditional telecom network architectures and the challenges facing modern operators, including increasing bandwidth demands, cloud integration, service complexity, and operational costs. Participants will then explore how SDN separates the control plane from the data plane, enabling centralized network programmability, automation, and dynamic traffic management.

The course further introduces NFV concepts, including the virtualization of core telecom functions such as EPC, IMS, firewalls, load balancers, gateways, and session management systems. Participants will learn how virtualized network functions (VNFs) are deployed, orchestrated, monitored, and scaled within cloud-native telecom environments.

Special emphasis is placed on telecom core-network applications, including:

LTE/EPC virtualization

5G Core (5GC)

IMS virtualization

SD-WAN concepts

Cloud-native telecom infrastructure

Network slicing

Edge computing integration

Open RAN considerations

The program also covers orchestration frameworks, MANO architecture (Management and Orchestration), OpenStack fundamentals, Kubernetes basics for telecom applications, and automation frameworks used by modern telecom operators.

Practical understanding is reinforced through architecture analysis, deployment workflows, configuration demonstrations, troubleshooting exercises, use cases, and telecom-focused case studies. Participants will also gain exposure to operational considerations such as service assurance, network monitoring, cybersecurity, high availability, redundancy, and performance optimization within SDN/NFV environments.

The course aligns with modern telecom transformation initiatives and global industry practices adopted by telecom operators, service providers, and infrastructure vendors worldwide. Upon completion, participants will be equipped with the technical knowledge required to support next-generation telecom core-network transformation projects and virtualization initiatives.

After completing this course you should be able to:

Understand SDN and NFV concepts and architectures

Explain telecom core-network evolution toward virtualization

Understand control plane and data plane separation

Analyze SDN architecture and controllers

Understand NFV infrastructure (NFVI)

Deploy and manage virtualized network functions (VNFs)

Understand MANO (Management and Orchestration)

Explain cloud-native telecom concepts

Understand virtualization in LTE/EPC and 5G Core

Analyze network slicing and edge computing concepts

Understand telecom automation frameworks

Evaluate SDN/NFV security considerations

Troubleshoot virtualized telecom network environments

Understand orchestration and service automation principles

Analyze real telecom deployment use cases