The next phase of the network traffic explosion will be driven by use cases that make massive demands on communication service providers. Not only do these new-age applications stipulate greater data bandwidth, but they also need to be complemented by ultra-reliable, low-latency communications to deliver use cases like AR/VR media, UltraHD and new multimedia consumer experiences, massive Internet of Things (IoT), tactile internet, smart cities, AI surveillance, smart health, and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications such as smart meters.

Cisco Network Convergence System 540 (NCS 540) Small Density Routers, part of the larger NCS 540 router family, are compact 1RU systems designed for cost-effective delivery of next-generation services and applications for mobile and wireline. These routers are sub-100G-bandwidth, cost-effective, native-25G, carrier-class, I-Temp, conformal-coated, 232-mm-deep, ETSI-compliant, ultra-low-power, 1RU devices capable of Class-C timing, best-in-class security, service exposure using NC/YANG, streaming telemetry, and flexible rollouts using SDN. Built for deployment in any-gen RAN backhaul, sub-6 5G cell sites, Fixed-Wireless Access (FWA), small-cell backhaul, FTTx, utilities, mission-critical enterprise applications, and low-speed Ethernet rings, the three variants of NCS 540 Small Density Routers support a programable SR (segment routing) fabric and EVPN (Ethernet Virtual Private Network) as overlay for a unified end-to-end architecture with cross-domain orchestration via the industry-leading IOS XR software bundled with best-in-class services.

Key product highlights

• Cell site routers based on IOS XR extending Cisco's 5G Converged SDN Transport with the smallest footprint, ever
• The only router in the industry with native 25G interfaces in a sub-100G bandwidth form factor allowing cost-effective and seamless backhauling of 5G NR
• G.8273.2 Class C Timing complaint
• Low power consumption: minimum <40W, typical <70W, maximum 100W
• Height: 1 RU; width: 445 mm; depth: 232 mm
• Dual power supplies for both AC and DC variants and redundant fans: 3+1
• Suitable for indoor or outdoor (Sealed IP65/IP66 cabinet with heat exchanger conforming to GR487 Specs with sufficient cooling) cabinets: I-Temp, conformal-coated form factors conforming to GR-3108 class 2 and ETSI standards
• Side-to-side airflow
• Segment Routing with MPLS (SR-MPLS) and IPv6 data plane (SRv6)
• Versatile Ethernet interface options: 10/100/1000M, 1/10/25G
• Security - Trust Anchor infrastructure, secure boot, image signing, run-time defense
• True, secure zero-touch provisioning with the Cisco Crosswork^™ automation suite
• Fully compliant to MEF3.0 architecture for wireline networks
• Flexible consumption model