Huawei announced the industry's ‘’first’’ software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV).

Henceforth available this solution enables telecom operators to provide residents with virtual residential gateway (vRGW) and virtual set top box (vSTB) services over the broadband network. This means according to Huawei : ‘’reduction of the cost of providing family video services, simplifies terminal maintenance
and management, improves family service experience, enhances telecom operators' innovation in service development, and shortens the time to market (TTM) of new services.’’

The SDN- and NFV-based open architecture aims to allow software upgrades on a common hardware platform, breaking through the shackles of the traditional closed IPTV industry chain. This can help telecom operators quickly introduce new third-party services and explore a new business mode for cooperating and sharing profits with OTT enterprises.

‘’The Huawei vFamily solution consists of an innovative virtual service control and aggregation platform and a high-performance BNG router that supports separate service and forwarding. The solution is used to provide vRGW and vSTB services using SDN and NFV technologies. Huawei continuously pours investment and innovation into the vFamily solution. In 2012, Huawei was the first company to put the vRGW service into commercial use. In 2013, Huawei further launched a comprehensive solution that supports the vSTB service, of which the services were demonstrated at the Barcelona Mobile World Congress, receiving wide acclaim from major European telecom operators. ‘’ said Christian Chua, Director of the R&D Department of Huawei's Fixed Business Department.