Virtualizing 5G and Beyond 5G Mobile Networks

The fifth generation (5G) mobile network brings significant new capacity and opportunity to network operators while also creating new challenges and additional pressure to build and operate networks differently. The transformation to 5G mobile networks creates the opportunity to virtualize significant portions of the radio access (RAN) and network core, allowing operators to better compete with over-the-top and hyperscaler offerings. This book covers the business and technical areas of virtualization that enable the transformation and innovation that today’s operators are seeking. It identifies forward-looking gaps where the technology continues to develop, specifically packet acceleration and timing requirements, which today are still not fully virtualized. The book shows you the operational and support considerations, development and lifecycle management, business implications, and vendor-team dynamics involved in deploying a virtualized network. Packed with key concepts of virtualization that solve a broad array of problems, this is an essential reference for those entering this technical domain, those that are going to build and operate these networks, and those that are seeking to learn more about the telecom network. It illustrates why you just can’t do it all in the cloud today. Virtualizing 5G and Beyond 5G Mobile Networks Contents Acknowledgments Part I Fundamentals of Virtualization in Communication Service Provider Networks 1 Virtualizing of the 5G Radio Access and Core Network 1.1 Introduction to Virtualizing the Mobile Network 1.1.1 The Beginning of Network Function Virtualization 1.2 Expanding on the First Vision of Virtualization 1.3 Breaking Down the Fundamentals Driving Virtualization 1.4 Applying This Discussion to the Mobie Radio Network 1.5 Transforming the Mobile Network One G at a Time 1.6 Evolving Small Steps on the Gs 1.7 Which Network Is This Exactly? 1.8 Acronyms and Domain-Specific Terms Abound 1.9 Telecom Providers Go by Many Names 1.10 Addressing the Various Audiences 1.11 To Those New to This Industry 1.12 Structure of the Remaining Chapters 1.12.1 The Fundamentals: Chapters 1–5 1.12.2 Engineering of Virtualized 5G and B5G Systems: Chapters 6–11 1.12.3 Future Developments: Chapters 12–14 1.12.4Acronyms and Terms References 2 Benefits of NFV for 5G and B5G Networks and Standards Bodies 2.1 Why Use NFV for Networks? 2.1.1 Transformation of a Large Legacy Business Is Difficult 2.2 The Existing NEP Ecosystem of Vendors 2.3 Changing Business Models Midstream 2.4 Independent Software Vendors as NEPs 2.5 Green-Field Entrants into the CSP Buiness 2.6 Transformation from Hardware-Centric to Software-Centric Networks 2.6.1 Data Traffic Dominates the Network 2.6.2 There Is a Fixed Cost to Moving Bits 2.6.3 A Tale of Two Models 2.7 Applying the Cloud Model to the Telco 2.8 Paths Taken to Evolve the Telco Network 2.8.1 3G Data Begins to Be the Primary Content in the Network 2.8.2 Interfaces Connecting Endpoints in the Network 2.9 The Ever-Evolving Introduction of Technology into the Network 2.9.1 Making the Network Global 2.9.2 This Global Network Comes at a High Cost 2.9.3 Relating This Back to the 5G Network 2.10 The Drive for Improved Agility and and Efficiency 2.10.1 DevOps and Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery 2.11 Separation between Data Plane and Control Plane 2.11.1 The 5G User Plane Function and Data Network 2.11.2 5G Standalone and Non-Standalone Deployments 2.12 3GPP as the Leading Standard Body for the Mobile Network 2.13 Introducing the International Telecommunication Union 2.14 Other Standards Bodies 2.15 Open RAN’s Role in Virtualizing 5G 2.16 Venture Capital Investments 2.17 Summary References 3 Virtualization Concepts for Networks 3.1 The Virtualization of the Network 3.1.1 What Is Virtualization? 3.2 Managing the Virtual Resources: Resource Control and Efficiency 3.3 A Brief History of Virtualization Concepts 3.4 Virtualization Through the Ages 3.4.1 The Early Years: Computer and OS Virtualization 3.4.2 The Second Decade of Virtualization Leaves the Research Labs 3.4.3 Smaller Computers Join the Fray 3.4.4 Processes Start Talking to Each Other 3.4.5 Democratizing Computing in the 1980s 3.4.6 1990s: Universality and Independence 3.4.7 2000: The Era of Hardware Efficiency 3.4.8 2010: Control Efficiency 3.5 Cloud Computing 3.5.1 1970–1980: The Embryonic Phase 3.5.2 1990: Distributed and Bundling 3.5.3 2000: The Cloud Becomes a Commercial Offering 3.5.4 2010s: Control, Automation, Orchestration, and Application Engineering 3.6 Network Virtualization 3.6.1 1960–Mid-1980: Roots and Programmability of Distributed Computing 3.6.2 Mid-1980–2000: The Internet Boom 3.6.3 2000–2005: Powerful Application Overlays and Ossification of the Internet 3.6.4 2005–2010: Network Virtualization and Network Slices 3.6.5 2010: Programmability of the Network 3.7 Basic Objects and Data Structures for Network Virtualziation 3.7.1 Network Topology 3.7.2 Addressing 3.7.3 Routing 3.7.4 Resource Management 3.8 Summary References 4 Data Plane Virtualization and Programmability for Mobile Networks 4.1 Data Plane Acceleration with OpenFlow and P4 4.1.1 Context for Acceleration with OpenFlow and P4 4.2 OpenFlow 4.2.1 Flows 4.2.2 Configuration 4.2.3 System Model and Pipeline 4.2.4 Ports 4.2.5 Group, Meters, and Counters 4.2.6 Forwarding Abstraction 4.2.7 Instructions and Actions 4.2.8 Header and Match Fields 4.2.9 Examples for Matching Headers 4.2.10 OpenFlow Protocol 4.2.11 Distributed Controllers and Flow Visor 4.2.12 Evaluation of the OpenFlow Concept 4.2.13 The Importance of OpenFlow in 5G 4.3 P4 4.3.1 Domain-Specific Programmability 4.3.2 The P4 Language 4.3.3 P4 Concept 4.3.4 Data Plane Forwarding and P4 Enhancements 4.3.5 Portable Switch Architecture 4.3.6 Programming a P4 Device 4.3.7 The P4 Language 4.3.8 P4 Runtime Architecture 4.3.9 Evaluation of P4 4.4 Conclusion References 5 Performance of Infrastructures for Virtual Network Functions 5.1 Performance and Security Considerations 5.1.1 Virtualization Modes and Requirements 5.1.2 Sharing, Aggregation, and Emulation in Virtualization 5.2 Performance Evaluation Concepts for the Sharing of Resources 5.2.1 Networking Scenario 5.2.2 Mathematical Concept 5.2.3 Mathematics Model 5.2.4 A More Realistic Description of the Impact 5.2.5 Smallest Timescale and Timescale Analysis 5.2.6 Capabilities and Conclusion 5.3 Performance Evaluation Concepts for the Aggregation of Resources 5.3.1 Foundations 5.4 CPU Pinning 5.5 Non-Uniform Memory Access 5.6 Conclusion References Part II Engineering of Virtualized 5G and 6 Transforming and Disaggregation in 5G and B5G Networks 6.1 The Transforming and Disaggregation 6.1.1 Challenges to Transforming the Telco Network 6.2 DevOps: A Method to Improve System Management 6.3 Telco DevOps 6.4 Transforming the Operations in the Network 6.5 Rolling out 5G in the Network 6.5.1 5G Non-Standalone and Standalone Considerations 6.6 Private LTE and Private 5G 6.7 The Cost of 4G and 5G Is Changing 6.7.1 Regulatory Considerations 6.8 Security in the Disaggregated Network 6.9 Transforming Operations: A Use Case 6.10 Beyond 5G Market Drivers References 7 Designing Virtualized RAN 7.1 Virtualizing the 5G RAN 7.1.1 It All Begins with the Standards 7.1.2 Operating Systems of Choice 7.1.3 Supplementation of the OS 7.2 The Continuing Evolution of the Standards 7.3 Attaching the UE to a Network 7.3.1 The Roaming UE 7.3.2 The UE Detailed Signaling Flow 7.4 Initialization of the DU to CU Connection 7.4.1 Back to the UE Attachment 7.5 The 80/20 Rule 7.6 Splitting the RAN: Revisited 7.6.1 FEC Processing and More in the RAN 7.7 Enhanced Common Public Radio Interface: The Fronthaul Interface Transformation 7.8 Summary References 8 vRAN Performance Engineering 8.1 Network Performance Engineering 8.1.1 5G Drivers 8.1.2 5G Usage Scenarios 8.1.3 5G Spectrum Bands 8.2 5G Functional Split 8.2.1 5G Functional Split Origin 8.2.2 eCPRI 8.2.3 Functional Split Options 8.2.4 Functional Splits Trade-Off 8.2.5 How to Select and Additional Functional Split Options 8.3 5G Deployment Options: SA and NSA Architecture 8.3.1 SA and NSA Deployment Options 8.3.2 Technical and Cost Comparison 8.3.3 Migration Path from 4G LTE to 5G 8.4 5G Roadmap 8.4.1 3GPP Release of 5G NR 8.4.2 5G Services in North America 8.4.3 4G-5G Interworking Architecture 8.4.4 User Plane and Control Plane Deployment Considerations 8.5 Key Challenges in 5G Rollout 8.5.1 System Security 8.5.2 Service Performance and Availability References 9 Building the vRAN Business: Technologies and Economical Concerns for a Virtualized Radio Access Network 9.1 What Are the Costs and Opportunities of 5G? 9.2 The 5G Business Outcome 9.3 New Models to Address the TCO 9.4 The oRAN Model Introduces a RAN Intelligent Controller 9.5 Features of the One-Socket Server 9.6 Open Source Remains a Critical Element to the Virtualization Effort 9.6.1 Open-Source Community in the RAN 9.7 Asymmetry in 5G and the Previous Gs 9.8 5G Market Drivers in Asia 9.9 Business Considerations of Virtualization 9.10 Pro and Cons of White Boxes, Which Are Truly SHVSs, in the vRAN 9.11 Bright Boxes: Standard High-Volume Servers with One or Two Customized Features References 10 Designing Virtualized 5G Networks 10.1 Successfully Designing Virtualized 5G Networks 10.1.1 What Is Success for a Virtual System Design? 10.1.2 Overall Aim 10.1.3 Efficient Virtualization 10.1.4 Separation and Portability 10.1.5 Open-Source Software 10.2 Open-Source Software for 5G 10.2.1 Why Open-Source Software? 10.2.2 Flexibility and Agility 10.2.3 Speed of Development and Deployment 10.2.4 Low Licensing Efforts 10.2.5 Cost-Effectiveness 10.2.6 Ability to Start Small 10.2.7 Software Security 10.2.8 Shared Maintenance Costs 10.2.9 Enabling Future Development and Attract Better Talent 10.3 5G Open-Source Efforts 10.3.1 Open-Source 5G Core Network Elements 10.4 Design and Performance Criteria for Virtualized 5G Systems 10.4.1 Computer Systems and Software Engineering Concepts for Virtualized 5G Systems 10.5 Computer Systems and Software Engineering Concepts for 5G Functions 10.6 Performance Criteria for 5G Systems 10.6.1 Scenarios and KPIs 10.7 Summary References 11 Scaling Disaggregated vRANs 11.1 The Disaggregated vRAN 11.1.1 RAN Disaggregation 11.2 RAN Intelligent Controller Overview 11.2.1 Interfaces 11.2.2 RIC Design Principles and Components 11.2.3 Policy Guidance 11.2.4 ML/AI Role in the RIC 11.3 Security Challenges 11.3.1 Key Security Threats 11.3.2 Key Security Pillars 11.4 5G Resiliency 11.4.1 Network Resiliency 11.4.2 VNF Resiliency 11.4.3 Dynamic Rerouting with Live Migration Support References Part III Future Developments in the Mobil 12 Private 5G Networks and the Edge 12.1 The Privatization of the Network with p5G 12.1.1 Usage Scenario and Objectives 12.1.2 Service Objectives and Attributes for Private 5G 12.2 Technology Overview 12.2.1 Deployment Scenarios 12.3 Multiaccess Edge Computing and Private 5G Systems 12.3.1 MEC Overview 12.3.2 MEC Architecture Elements 12.3.3 Future MEC Solutions for Private 5G Systems 12.4 Business Issues with Private 5G and MEC Systems 12.4.1 Enabling Private 5G Benefits for Applicaitons 12.4.2 SIM, eSIM, iSIM 12.4.3 MEC and Hyperscalers at the Edge 12.5 Summary References 13 Open-Source Software Development and Experimental Activities 13.1 Introduction 13.2 5G Open-Source Software Packages 13.2.1 Open-Source 5G Core Network Elements 13.2.2 Open-Source Evolved Packet Core 13.2.3 Open-Source Radio Access Network Elements 13.2.4 Open SDR Devices 13.2.5 Open-Source Control and Orchestration 13.3 5G Experimental Networks for US-EU Collaboration 13.3.1 POWDER 13.3.2 Colosseum 13.3.3 COSMOS 13.3.4 AERPAW 13.3.5 NITOS 13.3.6 R2lab 13.3.7 Open Experimental Sites in 5G-EVE 13.3.8 Open Experimental Sites in 5GENESIS 13.3.9 Open Experimental Sites in 5G-VINNI 13.4 Summary References 14 Summary of Virtualization of 5G and Beyond 14.1 Where It All Began 14.2 New Markets 14.3 6G Is on the Horizon 14.4 Summary of Some Key Factors 14.4.1 A Cloudy Crystal Ball 14.5 Conclusion 14.5.1 Possible Research Areas References Glossary of Acronyms and Common Terms About the Authors Index