From Weeks to Seconds: Scaling Network Automation with Kubernetes Operators

This talk covers the challenges of managing complex networks and presents a solution developed by Swisscom: a Kubernetes Resource Model (KRM)-powered automation framework. The speaker demonstrates how this framework transforms high-level user intents into production-ready network configurations within seconds, instead of weeks, while integrating MetalLB load balancing and NetBox IP address management to enhance efficiency and scalability. Key topics include launching the Network of a 5G Core in minutes, productivity gains, best practices, and lessons learned from scaling network automation. Attendees will learn about automation frameworks and the experience gained from building Kubernetes Operators, including the open-source Netbox Operator, highlighting the significant impact of cloud-native automation on networking.