Network function virtualization: opportunities and challenges [Guest editorial]

Over the past decades, the scale of communications networks has been growing rapidly with the emergence of more and more network-based services. However, network operators all over the world are experiencing a decline in profitability in the last few years. Responding to such a challenge and paradox, the concept of network function virtualization (NFV) has been introduced with the aim of efficiently enabling network-based services (1) by deploying standardized and programmable hardware systems and (2) by virtualizing network functions with software. Compared to the current approaches to network and service deployment, which are based on a large variety of propriety equipment, NFV opens up many opportunities to the telecommunications industry. By reducing the cost of equipment and increasing the revenue with virtualized services, NFV has the potential to revolutionize the entire telecommunication industry.