Architecture for 5G Mobile Networks Based on SDN
A massive traffic increase is foreseen in the near future in mobile networks. Such data storm is expected to pose new challenging requirements to the existing mobile network architecture, since the traffic will be generated by a wide set of applications running on an increasingly high number of mobile devices and sensors. In this investigation we propose a paradigm shift for the Evolved Packet Core for the future 5G system. By leveraging on the economy of scale of software-based ICT technologies, namely Software Defined Networking and cloud computing, we propose a hierarchically cloudified mobile network. In particular, we focus on a low cost architecture, proposing low latency Layer 2 solutions for the Access Network, while exploiting aggregating Layer 3 mobility functionalities in the regional and national clouds.
Link-Level Access Cloud Architecture Design Based on SDN for 5G Networks
In this paper we focus on the design of the Access Cloud with the goal of providing low latency and scalable Ethernet-like support to terminals and MTC devices including mobility management. We examine and address its challenges in terms of network scalability and support for link-level mobility. We propose a link level architecture that forwards frames from and to edge network elements (access points (AP) and routers) with a label which identifies the APs through which the terminal is reachable. An SDN local controller tracks and updates the users' location information at the edge network elements. Additionally, we propose to delegate in SDN local controllers the handling of non-scalable operations, such as broadcast and multicast messages, and network management procedures.
