Rethinking ISP architectures through virtualization

Network virtualization is a powerful technology that has been proposed as a mean to evolve the current Internet, allowing the introduction and testing of future network technologies over present infrastructures in coexistence with our current production networks. However, apart from a path to the Future Internet, network virtualization can also be a key technology that modifies and improves today ISP networks. This paper analyses how network virtualization and all the technologies being developed around it can influence and evolve the present ISP network architectures and business models. Starting from the well-known ISP architecture made of access, distribution and core layer; we present and discuss the benefits that can be achieved by introducing virtualization technologies in each layer.