The demand for Network as a Service (NaaS) among enterprises is accelerating, highlighted Pascal Menezes, Chief Technology Officer at MEF.
During the Global NaaS Event by MEF, held in Dallas,Texas, the CTO at MEF recalled that they started with four enterprises and have now expanded to include 14, representing various verticals such as entertainment, financial services, banking, consulting, and healthcare, among others.
The potential for additional sectors, like automotive and transportation, is also being recognized.
“Enterprises from different verticals—including entertainment, financial services, banking, consulting, and healthcare—are increasingly showing interest in NaaS. Attracting a broader range of enterprises to participate, even if they don’t get involved in progressing the work directly, allows them to benefit from the collective efforts we are making. This is a fantastic platform because it brings all key stakeholders together,” explained Menezes.
Multinational companies with branches all over the world can benefit greatly from customized notifications and services, because they now have access to flexible solutions, improving their operations and customer experiences.
Nan Chen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at MEF, highlighted the success of SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) certification, the growth in coverage, the increase of vendors, and the expansion of certified services. He emphasized the importance of evolving enterprise capabilities and growing MEF’s membership, which has seen significant increases.
The Role of Federation and Ecosystem Interconnectedness
Nan Chen discussed the concept of Federation, which aims to build a global footprint by interconnecting ecosystems.
“NaaS builds on what MEF has been developing for over 20 years. Most of our providers own transport networks and circuits, which need to be automated and interconnected to create a cloud-like experience. This interconnectedness allows circuits to be turned up in minutes or hours, rather than months,” he stated.
Pascal Menezes, commented that the goal is to create an ecosystem where assets are interconnected, making the entire network more efficient and responsive to enterprise needs. This interconnectedness is seen as the first step in a broader journey toward a fully automated and integrated network service environment.
As NaaS continues to gain traction, MEF is poised to lead in standardizing and promoting these services. The forum's efforts to bring together key stakeholders, establish standardized practices, and drive innovation are setting the stage for a new era in enterprise networking.
The acceleration of enterprise demand for NaaS is transforming the telecommunications landscape, offering businesses more flexibility, efficiency, and connectivity. As MEF continues to expand its membership and capabilities, the future of NaaS looks promising, with the potential to revolutionize how enterprises manage their network services.
