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Wireline
NFVi
FPGAs bring hardware acceleration to Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure.
Virtualized Networks, Hardware Speed
Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure remains a focus for Communications Service Providers as COTS software with configurable hardware improves total cost of ownership and deployment flexibility.
Altera and its partners collaborate with customers to ensure targeted hardware, IP, and solutions for deploying virtual network functions (VNFs), cloud-native functions (CNFs), virtual Broadband Network Gateways, and virtual Evolved Packet Core.
The Challenges, and Why FPGA
The Challenge
Rising TCO Pressure
CoSPs need COTS software with configurable hardware to improve TCO.
Why FPGA
Configurable Hardware Acceleration
FPGA-based acceleration improves total cost of ownership for CoSPs.
The Challenge
Deployment Flexibility
Virtualized network functions need flexible, adaptable deployment models.
Why FPGA
Targeted Hardware & IP
Targeted hardware and IP solutions support VNF and CNF deployment flexibility.
The Challenge
vBNG & vEPC Performance
Virtual gateway and packet core functions need hardware-class performance.
Why FPGA
Hardware-Accelerated vBNG/vEPC
FPGA acceleration supports vBNG and vEPC performance requirements.
Why Altera
FPGAs for Every Network Scale
Match FPGAs efficiently to use cases from end-user appliances to core systems.
Partner Collaboration on VNF/CNF
Altera and partners target hardware and IP for VNF and CNF deployment.
High-Performance Data-Path Design
High fabric performance even at high utilization simplifies data-path design.
Global Engineering Support
A global engineering network supports projects through future updates.
Get Started
More Wireline Applications
End-to-End Security
Line-rate Crypto including MACsec and IPsec, plus post-quantum support on Agilex® FPGAs, from access to core, with security you can update in the field.
Gateway
FPGAs implement flexible, reconfigurable hardware acceleration for network gateways.
Routing/Switching Overlay
FPGAs power high-speed routing and switching with integrated crypto and memory.
OTN, B100G OTN, and FlexO
FPGA-based Virtual ASSPs for OTN, Beyond-100G, and FlexO transport up to 800G.
Flex Ethernet (FlexE) and MTN
FPGAs implement FlexE and MTN to turn Ethernet into a flexible multichannel link.
Private Line Emulation (PLE)
FPGAs enable bit-level transparent OTN transport over IP and Ethernet networks.
EPON-GPON / 10G / 25-50G PON
FPGAs implement scalable OLT MAC solutions from GPON to 50G Asymmetric PON.
Common Questions
NFVi is the infrastructure supporting virtualized network functions. FPGA acceleration supplies configurable hardware for selected data paths alongside software-based deployment, helping communications service providers tailor network processing to their workloads. The intended function and deployment requirements determine the device, IP and implementation needed.
Both virtual and cloud-native network functions can use targeted hardware acceleration when their processing requirements justify it. The deployment model and accelerated data path are separate design choices; the hardware and IP should be matched to the specific network function rather than assumed to fit every implementation.
FPGA acceleration provides configurable processing for vBNG and vEPC workloads that need hardware-class data-path performance. It complements the software deployment approach, with the selected function, traffic requirements and interfaces used to determine which processing belongs in programmable hardware and which remains in software. Explore Wireline virtual gateway and packet-core acceleration
Define the target network function, deployment model, data-path performance needs and interface requirements first. Agilex 7 and Agilex 5 are listed as platform options, with configurable hardware and targeted IP supporting workload-specific designs. Selection should follow those requirements rather than a generic NFVi device recommendation. Explore Agilex 7 FPGA networking platform resources
Evaluate TCO for the intended workload and deployment rather than assuming hardware offload always lowers cost. COTS software with configurable hardware is the proposed approach, so compare the resulting processing capability and deployment flexibility with the implementation and support effort required for the selected network function.