In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, an exemplary system or computer implemented method for implementing the virtualization of access node functions may include, for example: a memory to store instructions for execution; one or more processors to execute the instructions; a control plane interface to communicably interface the system with an access node over a network, in which the access node is physically coupled with a plurality of broadband lines; a virtualized module to provide a virtualized implementation of a plurality of functions of the access node at the system, in which the virtualized module executes on a virtualized computing infrastructure; the control plane interface of the system to receive current operational data and current operating conditions for the plurality of broadband lines from the access node; the virtualized module to update the virtualized implementation of the plurality of functions of the access node at the system according to the current operational data and the current operating conditions received from the access node; an analysis module to analyze the current operational data and the current operating conditions received from the access node; an instruction module to generate control parameters to affect operation of the access node based on the analysis of the current operational data and the current operating conditions received; and the control plane interface to send the control parameters to the access node for adoption at the access node. Other related embodiments are disclosed.