The growth of the IoT and new customer expectations are making networking more complex. Carried out effectively, virtualisation can help service providers overcome this challenge, enabling them to get closer to their customers

The recent launch of Google Home, the smart speaker and virtual assistant that rivals Amazon's Echo device, underlines the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Soon, connected devices like these are expected to move from being novelties to the norm, with the IoT set for explosive growth in the coming years.

Everything from cars to trains, cities and entire manufacturing chains is being connected to the IoT. Cisco research projects that by 2020, there will be26.3 billion networked devices and connections worldwide-that's an increase of 60 percent from 2015.

The growing number of connected devices and objects will require flexible networks that can be adjusted and scaled easily to suit changing situations.

And this comes on top of growing customer expectations for agile, bespoke services.

To meet these new demands, many service providers are choosing to move to virtual networks. With these networks, they can develop the right products and launch them quickly.

If they can do virtualisation well, there are real rewards on offer. But if they don't manage to make the change, they risk becoming spectators.

So how do service providers make sure their virtual network will enable them to thrive in the digital future?

Cisco Network Services Orchestrator -simplicity through automation

A virtual network comprises different kinds of technology. One of the most important elements is the orchestration engine.

Cisco'sNetwork Services Orchestrator (NSO)is a crucial component of our virtualisation technology.

It enables providers to design and deliver high-quality services faster and more easily, without creating custom code or causing disruptions.

It also simplifies your operations by automating processes across the network, reducing manual configuration steps by up to 90 percent.

This solution is ideal for service providers making the move to a virtual network, because it's compatible with both virtual and physical elements.

And because it's built using open standards, it's flexible enough to adapt to the changing needs of your business.

Cisco -a natural partner for virtualisation and orchestration

Our expertise in using the latest technology to build virtual network architecture means we can help ensure your services are agile and adaptable, as well as delivered rapidly. This allows you to meet even the most stringent service-level agreements.

The Spanish service provider Telefonica recentlychose the Cisco NSOto help it create a more automated and agile network and bring new products to market faster.

Pedro L