"Our goal is to provide software defined networking for enterprises", said Vab Goel of Virtela

Virtela, a global cloud networking company, is the smart alternative for enterprise networking and virtualized IT services has been recently acquired by NTT communications for `3200 crores. The company provides enterprise WAN transformation, with the only cloud infrastructure that removes the complexity and expense of having multiple networking devices from companies such as Cisco at each branch office. Vab Goel, founder and chairman,Virtela spoke to DQ Channels in an exclusive interview about the acquisition, Virtela's India plans, developing next-generation networking products and the future of networking.

Tell us about the NTT acquisition of Virtela.

NTT Communications has got a leading networking business and also a cloud business. It is looking to become the number one company not only in Japan but also in other countries in the network services space. So when they met Virtela and its team NTT got really excited about its technology platform. Virtela focuses on managed network services and it is a $50 Bn-plus company spread across the world. And what Virtela has done in last fourteen years have build the overlay in a cloud model. From a Virtela side we got the backing of the world's largest company and the flexibility a young start-up. So we will have single products, single delivery model and single offerings. But Virtela has got a lot of flexibility and independence when it comes to structuring its team and hiring people.

How this NTT acquisition changes the way Virtela functions?

Virtela's vision have always been to become the number one provider of managed network services in the world. Now with NTT we have more resources and distribution. NTT has a salesforce in 35 countries and together with them we will be able to grow much faster. Our sales force was limited to a handful of countries. And we used to work a lot with the partners. Now apart from the partners we will be leveraging NTT's sales force too. All the key countries in the world where most of the MNCs are based Virtela will have its own sales team with NTT as a single company.

How Virtela is transforming manged network services around the world?

So it's like if you have MNC company which has got hundred sales offices in 50 countries you will be needing internet connection at every office, you need security and here Virtela comes to play. It offers that as a single stock. Without owning in fibre optics, cable or any asset by using Virtela one can have all these services. So think about it like Skype. It is a number one pone company without owning the phone network. So just like that Virtela is a networking company without owning the asset. So one of the key thing today is that when you want to connect a branch office you need to have a router, firewall, application acceleration. So you need many devices and it is very expensive and cumbersome too. So what Virtela did is build the technology where you no longer need to purchase all this expensive devices. All this become part of the network which you can buy as a service. So this technology was what NTT was looking for; the automation systems. We have predictive network monitoring system where we are able to detect before the problem happens. In today's environment everything needs to be connected and that is what NTT got really excited about.

Tell us about your India plans. How does India fit into Virtela's global venture?

NTT is present in India through multiple ways. Dimension data, Netmagic are NTT owned companies. For Virtela, India is a delivery and operation center and very important one. Product and software development, network monitoring centers are here. From sitting here we manage customers in 100+ countries. NTT as a company already has a sales force through Dimension Data and Netmagic. Our strategy is to work with them in India. I think the opportunity for us here is the every network engineer and software developer who wants to work on the the technology which other companies might not even work on for another ten years. So India is the home for networking architecture, software developer, service delivery and operation. So if they want to work on some of the most advanced platforms in cloud technology then they should come and work with us. So our goal is to provide software defined networking for enterprise customers around the world.

What kind of exciting products we might see in the coming days from Virtela?

We are developing a product for both end-users and our enterprise customers and that is to provide 5-25 times faster data speeds. Regardless of who your mobile operator is anywhere in the world the data access speed will be faster. You just need to download one single app and then you are on board. We are also developing next generation network security which can be activated through few clicks in the network portals. So no more buying Cisco routers, shipping it and finding someone to install it. You just need to come online and being able to self-service and configure. That will be the next big thing.

Were do you see the future of enterprise networking heading to?

Enterprises are looking for asset light where they don't want to own the hardware, but they want service providers to offer them the service. Traditionally enterprises have hired network security engineers and build 24x7 support. But when you look around the world networking is becoming very complex. And the CIOs are basically wondering if they ought to mull about networking or manage their business. So they think it is better to partner with someone who is truly an expert and will do it 24x7 globally for them. So we are going to see enterprises more and more look outside rather than trying to build.