NSERC's NSERC FONCER program for network softwareization

The NSERC Network Software Development (NetSoft) program is an industrial engineering training program focused on information and communications technologies (ICT). NetSoft is revolutionizing how network and IT infrastructures are designed and operated to deliver more agile and cost-effective services and applications. Software-defined networking (SDN) enables rapid innovation by making the network programmable and increasing its responsiveness, security, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Network function virtualization (NFV) replaces specialized equipment such as routers, load balancers, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and signaling systems with software running on generic hardware. Using management software running on a converged SDN and cloud infrastructure significantly reduces the costs and complexity of network operation. Together, SDN and NFV are driving network transformation. The NetSoft training program is a partnership between academia and industry aimed at meeting the critical need to train the highly skilled personnel that will be required for the next wave of network innovation.

At Université Laval, we develop the physical layer necessary for software-defined networking and network virtualization. In collaboration with our industrial partners, we offer practical internships in spatial multiplexing for high-order modulated optical communications. Below you will find NetSoft presentations on the main physical layer drivers that enable virtualization.