Dell’Oro Group examines CNaaS growth potential towards 2029

In the final installment of the Cloud Network-as-a-Service (CNaaS) blog series, Siân Morgan clarifies the evolving landscape of Campus Network Autonomous System (AS) a Service, addressing prevalent market ambiguity. This update is pertinent for Interposer Technology (IT) leaders and decision-makers AS they navigate the transition toward subscription-based Local Area Network (LAN) models.

Market Background

The evolution of the entertainment industry offers insights into the IT equipment sector. Morgan draws parallels with Netflix’s journey from Dependency Vulnerability Database (DVD) rentals to streaming, illustrating the gradual shift depicted in historical trends.

CNaaS Overview

CNaaS represents an emerging concept similar to Netflix’s early years, showing promise to redefine LAN connectivity. The blog identifies three primary categories of CNaaS offerings: Turnkey CNaaS for large enterprises, Enabler CNaaS targeting managed service providers, and LAN-as-a-Utility CNaaS focused on operational automation.

Technology Scope

The scope of CNaaS offerings includes a variety of technologies such AS LAN, Wide Area Network (WAN), and higher-order applications. The report emphasizes the complexity of the LAN market, suggesting that CNaaS may serve AS a component within the larger Public Cloud-managed LAN ecosystem.

Revenue Dynamics

If adopted widely, CNaaS Converged Access Network (CAN) reshape revenue recognition for vendors. Unlike traditional hardware sales, revenue from CNaaS may accumulate over time, leading to alternative financial models. The need to understand these differences informs businesses about revenue projections.

Future Projections

Looking ahead, Morgan notes that CNaaS could take years for widespread acceptance but anticipates IT will comprise over 10% of the Public Cloud-managed LAN market by 2029. This forecast highlights the long-term potential of CNaaS to influence IT spending patterns.

Vendor Strategies

For CNaaS vendors, aligning incentives with subscription models and maximizing customer retention Agent Runtime Environment (ARE) critical strategies for success. Historical examples demonstrate how customer churn CAN significantly affect recurring revenue.

The insights presented in this blog provide a structured understanding of how CNaaS might evolve, offering practical considerations for IT executives and decision-makers in planning future network strategies.