Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) for Telecom Network Orchestration
ONAP is an open-source platform that automates the orchestration and lifecycle management of telecom networks, supporting 5G, SDN, and NFV technologies.
- Best for
- Telecom Network Automation
- Key capability
- Service Design and Modeling
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What is ONAP?
ONAP (Open Network Automation Platform) is an open-source software platform hosted by The Linux Foundation that enables real-time, policy-driven orchestration and automation of physical and virtual network functions. It is designed primarily for telecommunications service providers to automate the lifecycle management of network services and infrastructure, including 5G, SDN, and NFV environments. ONAP integrates multiple components to provide a comprehensive framework for designing, deploying, and managing network services across multi-vendor ecosystems.
Key features of ONAP
ONAP offers a modular architecture with components for design-time and run-time automation, including service design, orchestration, analytics, policy management, and closed-loop automation. It supports multi-cloud environments and provides APIs for integration with existing OSS/BSS systems. Its open-source nature encourages collaboration and innovation in network automation.
Service Design and Modeling
Graphical tools to create and customize network service models.
Orchestration Engine
Automates lifecycle management of network services and functions.
Policy Framework
Enables dynamic, rule-based automation for network optimization.
Analytics and Monitoring
Real-time data collection and analysis for proactive network management.
Multi-Cloud Support
Deploy network functions across various cloud environments.
Pros and cons of ONAP
Pros
- Comprehensive open-source platform for network automation
- Supports multi-vendor and multi-cloud environments
- Strong community and industry backing
- Modular architecture for flexible deployment
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Requires significant technical expertise to deploy and operate
- Complex architecture may be overwhelming for smaller teams
Key use cases for ONAP
Telecom Network Automation
Automate the deployment, configuration, and management of complex telecom networks including 5G and SDN infrastructures.
Service Orchestration
Coordinate and orchestrate network services across multiple vendors and technologies to streamline operations.
Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
Manage virtualized network functions to improve scalability and reduce hardware dependency.
Multi-Vendor Integration
Enable interoperability between different network equipment vendors through standardized automation workflows.
Cloud-Native Network Management
Leverage cloud-native technologies for flexible and scalable network management and orchestration.
How ONAP works
- 1
Design Network Services
Use ONAP’s design studio to model and define network services and their components.
- 2
Deploy and Orchestrate
ONAP orchestrates the deployment of network functions across physical and virtual infrastructure.
- 3
Monitor and Analyze
Continuously monitor network performance and collect analytics for operational insights.
- 4
Automate with Policies
Apply policies to automate responses and optimize network behavior in real-time.
- 5
Integrate with Ecosystem
Connect ONAP with other OSS/BSS systems and multi-vendor equipment for seamless operations.
Who is using ONAP
ONAP pricing
Open Source
$0
Free to use with community support under open-source license.
Plans and prices are as published by the vendor and can change. Check the official site before you buy. Open the pricing page (opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions about ONAP
ONAP is used for automating the orchestration and lifecycle management of telecom networks and services.
Yes, ONAP is an open-source platform available for free under the Linux Foundation.
Primarily telecommunications service providers, but also enterprises managing complex network infrastructures.
Yes, ONAP includes features specifically designed to support 5G network automation.
Some tools offer a free plan or trial with limited features. Availability can vary, so confirm on the official website.
Yes, it can help with that use case depending on how you configure it and what features are available. You’ll get the best results with clear inputs and a defined goal.
It depends on your specific needs and how you plan to use the tool. The official website and documentation are the best sources for the latest details.
Conclusion
Service design comes before anything runs in ONAP: network services and their components are modeled with graphical tools in its design studio. The platform then orchestrates the deployment of network functions across physical and virtual infrastructure, monitors performance and applies policies to automate responses in real time. Its policy framework enables dynamic, rule-based automation for network optimization, backed by real-time data collection and analysis. It also connects with OSS/BSS systems and multi-vendor equipment. Standardized automation workflows are meant to enable interoperability between different network equipment vendors. Use cases also include managing virtualized network functions to improve scalability and reduce hardware dependency.
ONAP is designed primarily for telecommunications service providers, although enterprises managing complex network infrastructures can also benefit. It includes features designed to support 5G network automation alongside SDN and NFV environments, and network functions can be deployed across various cloud environments. As an open-source platform under the Linux Foundation, it is available for free, and its tech stack includes Kubernetes, Docker, Python and Java.
The documented trade-off is complexity: deploying and operating it requires significant technical expertise, and the architecture may be overwhelming for smaller teams.
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