Nguyen, Brunstrom, Grinnemo, and Taheri
44
2.3.2 5G Mobile Core Network
SDN, NFV, and cloud computing are considered as key technologies to design the core
part of 5G networks. These technologies are described as follows:
2.3.2.1 Software Defined Networking
In terms of network flexibility and programmability, SDN [5] is widely recognized as the
best technology candidate for the development of 5G networks. The concept of SDN was
first proposed in the campus and data center network areas. It features the separation of
the data plane from the control plane, and facilitates the network management through
the abstraction of network control functionalities, as shown in Figure 2.9 (a). Being adopted
by 5G, SDN will enable a more agile and flexible core network architecture. In addition,
programmability and openness characteristics of SDN will help mobile operators shorten
the life cycle of introducing their new services and innovation into markets. By separating
the control and data planes, the network infrastructure can be constructed on demand and
on the basis of service requirements (network‐as‐a‐service), thus improving the resource
efficiency. It is worth to note that the SDN concept can also be used in the RAN domain,
where the SDN controller could control and schedule the radio resources for base stations,
thus improving the spectrum efficiency as well as mobility management.
However, there are still many challenges and issues with SDN that need to be
addressed, such as the scalability problem due to the centralization of network intelligence, extra latency between devices and the SDN controller, security problem of the
communication channel between the control and data planes, the lack of standardization on designing the protocol communicating between the control and data planes,
policy and charging enforcement. Other aspects related to the adoption of SDN into
mobile networks, such as placement problem of SDN controller, mobility management,
load balancing, etc., have been detailed in [28].
2.3.2.2 Network Function Virtualization
As described previously, the 5G system is not just about high data rate, low latency, and
flexibility. It is also about cost efficiency, which will have impact on the revenue of mobile
operators. 5G mobile operators will expect the cost for the deployment, which refers to
Edge cloud
Edge cloud
Mobile
Internet
Private Cloud
Enterprise
Apps Services
Apps Services
APIs
Internet of Things
BigData
Developer & Customer
communities
Apps Services
DMZ
Figure 2.8 Mobile Edge Computing architecture (adapted from [26]).
44
2.3.2 5G Mobile Core Network
SDN, NFV, and cloud computing are considered as key technologies to design the core
part of 5G networks. These technologies are described as follows:
2.3.2.1 Software Defined Networking
In terms of network flexibility and programmability, SDN [5] is widely recognized as the
best technology candidate for the development of 5G networks. The concept of SDN was
first proposed in the campus and data center network areas. It features the separation of
the data plane from the control plane, and facilitates the network management through
the abstraction of network control functionalities, as shown in Figure 2.9 (a). Being adopted
by 5G, SDN will enable a more agile and flexible core network architecture. In addition,
programmability and openness characteristics of SDN will help mobile operators shorten
the life cycle of introducing their new services and innovation into markets. By separating
the control and data planes, the network infrastructure can be constructed on demand and
on the basis of service requirements (network‐as‐a‐service), thus improving the resource
efficiency. It is worth to note that the SDN concept can also be used in the RAN domain,
where the SDN controller could control and schedule the radio resources for base stations,
thus improving the spectrum efficiency as well as mobility management.
However, there are still many challenges and issues with SDN that need to be
addressed, such as the scalability problem due to the centralization of network intelligence, extra latency between devices and the SDN controller, security problem of the
communication channel between the control and data planes, the lack of standardization on designing the protocol communicating between the control and data planes,
policy and charging enforcement. Other aspects related to the adoption of SDN into
mobile networks, such as placement problem of SDN controller, mobility management,
load balancing, etc., have been detailed in [28].
2.3.2.2 Network Function Virtualization
As described previously, the 5G system is not just about high data rate, low latency, and
flexibility. It is also about cost efficiency, which will have impact on the revenue of mobile
operators. 5G mobile operators will expect the cost for the deployment, which refers to
Edge cloud
Edge cloud
Mobile
Internet
Private Cloud
Enterprise
Apps Services
Apps Services
APIs
Internet of Things
BigData
Developer & Customer
communities
Apps Services
DMZ
Figure 2.8 Mobile Edge Computing architecture (adapted from [26]).