AT&T Deploys Israeli Startup DriveNets’ Network Cloud In Core Routing Solution

US multinational AT&T has tapped Raanana-based Israeli startup DriveNets to provide its Network Cloud software as part of the conglomerate’s core routing solution for a dis-aggregated network. AT&T says it is working on the infrastructure needed to carry the demand that, in the years ahead, will be generated by 5G, fiber-based broadband, and entertainment content services.

DriveNets was founded in late 2015 by Ido Susan, the co-founder of Intucell, acquired by Cisco in 2013 for $475 million, and Hillel Kobrinsky, founder of Interwise, acquired by AT&T for $121 million in 2007.

The company aims to revolutionize the telecom industry by helping Communications Service Providers (CSPs) handle increased demand while remaining profitable through building agile networks and detaching growth from cost.

DriveNet’s flagship product, Network Cloud, is a cloud-native software “that turns the physical network into a shared resource supporting multiple services,” DriveNets explains. The software runs on standard white boxes built by ODM (original design manufacturer) partners like UfiSpace and based on the Jericho2 chipset from Broadcom.

“We’re thrilled about this opportunity to work with AT&T on their next-gen core network and proud of our engineers for meeting AT&T’s rigorous certification process that field-prove the quality of our solution,” said Ido Susan, CEO of DriveNets. “DriveNets is transforming the network in the same way that VMware transformed the compute and storage industry.”

“We chose DriveNets, a disruptive supplier, to provide the Network Operating System (NOS) software for this core use case,” said Andre Fuetsch, AT&T’s CTO of Network Services, in his keynote speech at the Open Networking and Edge Summit (ONES) last week.

DriveNets emerged from stealth mode in 2019 and now works with 18 service providers and cloud infrastructure services.

The company raised $117 million in a Series A funding round last year with Bessemer Venture Partners, C4 Ventures, and Pitango Growth, with the participation of private investors.