Many network virtualization trials revolve around the core network, but few are fully commercialized yet. Belarussian operator Velcom claims to be in the vanguard, having moved all its 2G and 3G traffic to the cloud. Velcom, a subsidiary of Telekom Austria, has worked with ZTE on the project for the past nine months, and is in the unusual position of introducing a radical virtualized new architecture before it has even moved to 4G. Its legacy core network components, including evolved packet core (EPC), mobile switching center, home location register (HLR) and policy and charging rules function (PCRF) have all been moved to a virtualized platform running on OpenStack-based NFV implementations and standard hardware. The operator says its new platform, which…