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Key Industry Trends Highlighted by Network World
At MEF, we’ve been at the forefront of defining and standardizing Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), and as we move into 2025, we’re excited by the path forward for this dynamic sector.
The evolution of NaaS continues to reshape the telecom and IT landscape. A recent Network World article, What to expect from NaaS in 2025, highlighted key developments in NaaS, including its growing role in delivering agile, scalable, and on-demand network solutions.
NaaS: More than a Buzzword
The Network World article identifies NaaS as a solution addressing critical enterprise challenges—from complexity in multi-cloud environments to the need for seamless integration with emerging technologies like SASE and edge computing. However, to truly unlock its potential, the industry must move beyond the various interpretations of NaaS and coalesce around a unified framework.
This is where MEF’s work plays a pivotal role. The MEF NaaS Industry Blueprint provides a clear foundation for understanding and implementing NaaS capabilities. By defining standardized frameworks and APIs, MEF is ensuring that service providers can deliver consistent, interoperable, and scalable NaaS solutions that align with enterprise demands.
The Enterprise Perspective: Simplicity and Flexibility
Enterprises today seek simplicity and flexibility. They want to manage network resources as easily as spinning up virtual machines in the cloud. Yet, many enterprises struggle with the complexity of integrating NaaS into their existing environments.
MEF addresses this challenge through its Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) framework, which provides a standardized approach to automate and orchestrate NaaS offerings. By leveraging LSO APIs, enterprises can achieve:
- On-demand provisioning: Quickly scale resources up or down as needed.
- Seamless integration: Ensure compatibility across multi-vendor environments.
- End-to-end visibility: Monitor and optimize performance across hybrid networks.
The Role of SASE and Edge Computing in NaaS
The convergence of NaaS with Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and edge computing represents a key theme for 2025. As the Network World article notes, enterprises increasingly demand solutions that integrate security and networking at the edge, enabling efficient and secure access to distributed applications and data.
MEF’s SASE initiatives ensure that these technologies are not developed in silos. The MEF SASE Certification Program provides a standardized approach to integrating SASE within NaaS frameworks and instills confidence in addressing emerging cyber threats.
Bridging Gaps with Standardized APIs
Interoperability remains a significant hurdle in the NaaS ecosystem. The lack of standardized interfaces leads to inefficiencies and delays, slowing adoption. MEF has prioritized addressing this issue with standardized APIs to enable:
- Efficient service delivery: Streamlined processes for ordering, provisioning, and billing.
- Enhanced collaboration: Simplified integration between service providers, enterprises, and cloud providers.
- Faster innovation: Reduced time-to-market for new services.
What’s Next for NaaS in 2025?
The MEF NaaS Customer Experience White Paper represents a milestone in the industry’s evolution, presenting both users and providers of NaaS with a neutral baseline description of service features. It offers enterprises clear insights into what they should expect from a NaaS offering, including cloud-like scalability, dynamic connectivity, real-time performance insights, and enhanced cybersecurity.
The white paper also delves into the challenges enterprises face when adopting NaaS, and the transformation telecom service providers are undergoing to address these challenges.
Complementing this, MEF’s most recent NaaS Blueprint builds on our existing frameworks, incorporating advanced capabilities such as intent-based networking and AI-driven automation. These innovations will empower enterprises to:
- Optimize network resources dynamically.
- Enhance security postures through proactive threat detection.
- Deliver superior user experiences with predictive analytics.
MEF’s Call to Action
The Network World article captures the momentum behind NaaS, but realizing its full potential requires collective effort. MEF invites all players in the global automated NaaS ecosystem to join us in shaping the future of NaaS. By participating in our initiatives, adopting our standards, and contributing to our collaborative efforts, you can help define a more connected, agile, and secure NaaS ecosystem.
To learn more about MEF’s work on NaaS and our upcoming initiatives, explore MEF.net or join us at industry events throughout 2025. Together, we can turn the promise of NaaS into a reality that drives innovation and delivers value for all stakeholders.
Learn More
- Get the MEF NaaS Industry Blueprint.
- Get the MEF NaaS Customer Experience White Paper.
- Explore MEF’s LSO APIs.
- Watch all of the GNE 2024 Presentation Recordings
- Read the full Network World article, What to expect from NaaS in 2025
