The full report focuses on the outlook for the software-defined networking market.

1. GigaOM Research Sector RoadMapTM highlights
Software-Defined
Networking
by GigaOM Research analyst Mark Leary

2. Executive summary
Software-defined networking (SDN) represents the next big wave of networking investment. As
with previous networking trends, such as ethernet connectivity and voice over IP, full market
acceptance and widespread deployment of SDN will take five to 10 years to develop. During
this time, solutions and suppliers will rise and fall.
This report identifies six market disruption vectors that will help separate the leaders from the
pack as the market develops:
• technology leadership,
• partner ecosystem,
• customer care,
• application build-out,
• solution completion,
• market delivery.

3. Disruption vectors
Disruption vectors are areas in which the key SDN suppliers will strive
to gain an advantage. These disruption vectors present both
opportunities and threats:
• Technology leadership
• Partner ecosystem
• Customer care
• Application build-out
• Solution completion
• Market delivery

4. Sector RoadMap
In the Sector RoadMap, each vector is weighted according to its ability
to drive advantage in the SDN market.
The established suppliers are ranked according to their emphasis and
execution across all six disruption vectors.
The higher the score, the greater their ability to leverage these
disruption vectors and assert their position in the SDN market into the
future.

5. Sector RoadMap
• Number indicates company’s relative strength across all vectors
• Size of ball indicates company’s relative strength along individual vector

6. Companies to watch
Alcatel-Lucent

7. Key takeaways
• Standards are still evolving, products are still developing, partnerships
are still forming, and buyers continue to learn. All of these factors mean
the SDN market remains wide open.
• Participating vendors are presented with many targets of opportunity in
the SDN market because of the inclusion of multiple customer
segments and network segments. With so much promise, both broad-
based and specialized suppliers will be able to find success in the SDN
market if they execute properly across the disruption vectors.

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