GigaOm Radar for Network Operating Systems: Large Enterprises and SMBsv4.0

1. Executive Summary

The network operating system (NOS) landscape is evolving rapidly to address new demands reflected by new acquisitions, new capabilities, new investors, new partnerships, and new customer engagements. Legacy vendors have adopted disaggregation to protect their installed base and mitigate supply chain issues; open source initiatives promise flexible, low-cost deployments with rapid community innovation; and new players have emerged with disruptive, cloud-native approaches, significant financial backing, and high-profile early adopters.

The result? A market defined by limited choice and “few sizes fit all” solutions has been replaced by disaggregated, cost-efficient, open-standards-based, interoperable tech stacks. Instead of purchasing and deploying a “best-fit” solution, customers can independently choose—and swap out—hardware and software based on what makes the most sense for each use case. In addition, disaggregation enables users to tailor their networks to the exact needs of their operations by adding or removing specific features, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and limiting vulnerabilities and risk exposure.

Moreover, the needs of large enterprises and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) have also changed. Increased competition and the shift to a distributed workforce have transformed the requirements for critical network infrastructure. In addition, the adoption of cloud-based edge applications and new technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and machine learning (ML)—demand higher throughput, lower latency, and unprecedented levels of customization.

A robust NOS is vital for large enterprises to maintain the complex networking infrastructure required to support extensive communication, data sharing, and application services across distributed departments and locations. It ensures high availability, stability, security, and enterprise-level management that’s essential for the smooth operation of large-scale businesses. Furthermore, SMBs benefit significantly from deploying a NOS—even if their networking needs are less complex. It streamlines IT management, increases productivity, and enhances security, allowing SMBs to organize their network resources efficiently and maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

As networking demands evolve, NOS vendors innovate rapidly to deliver the tools needed for efficient network management. When selecting a NOS, large enterprises and SMBs should look for a solution that facilitates efficient network management, enhances security, promotes collaboration, and supports business growth and evolution. In addition, they should consider the size of their enterprise, existing infrastructure, compatibility, technical expertise, budget, and networking requirements.

This is our fourth year evaluating the NOS space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. This report builds on our previous analysis and considers how the market has evolved over the last year.

GigaOm Radars for Network Operating Systems

Due to the large number of suppliers and solutions available, we have divided the NOS landscape into three reports based on the target market.

• Mobile network operators (MNOs) and network service providers (NSPs), often referred to as “telco service providers”
• Cloud and managed service providers (CSPs and MSPs)
• Large enterprises and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs)

Figure 1 indicates which vendors and NOSs are covered in each report. YoY changes relating to the vendors and solutions we evaluated are covered in section 4. “GigaOm Radar.”

Figure 1. Suppliers and NOSs Included in Each GigaOm Radar

This GigaOm Radar report evaluates 19 of the top NOSs and compares offerings against the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) outlined in the companion Key Criteria report. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading NOSs, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.