Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Visualization (NFV) for 5G

By Andrew Aroh

5G will lead to a paradigm shift towards a landscape dominated by wireless connectivity. Major architectural changes are already taking place to accompany this shift:

• Network Function Virtualization (NFV) will be pivotal
• Software Defined Networking (SDN) both at the core and edge of the network will be deployed.
• The architectural changes will provide:
• Increased computing power
• Scalability
• Reduced operational costs
• Creative business models to enable differentiation
• 3GPP has defined a service-based architecture where flexibility and dynamic adjustments are the key drivers to meet performance and cost requirements. This architecture defines network functions which can be triggered by other services leveraging Virtualization and Network Slicing.
• As a reference, Newtec, early in 2019, announced that it would be collaborating with Wind River to utilize its Titanium cloud Virtualization Platform to develop a Newtec Dialog.
• Wind River’s complete Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) Software Platform Infrastructure will help Newtec leapfrog these 5G requirements.
• The Titanium Cloud Platform delivers the features needed to successfully build and deploys a virtualized network running multiple Virtual Machines. It also promises lower-cost, highly flexible, and scalable infrastructure and will provide customers with the ability to get better service access anywhere in the world.
• With SND and NFV Customers and service providers will be able to scale their services to quickly address changing requirements.
• Introduction To SND:
• SDN is a Radio Access Network for 5G wireless standards
• Software Defined Networking is based on Software Radio (also called Software Defined Radio – SDR)
• SDR is a device in which the supported air interface can be changed through a software only upgrade.
• SRD techniques has been used in a variety of military and high-end commercial radio devices to date, especially in spectrum monitoring.
• A conventional SDR design exploits specialized processors such as digital signal processors (DSPs) or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) on a specialized hardware board with embedded codes specific to the application. This technology might be termed “FIRMWARE RADIO” to reflect its lack of portability and dependence on specific hardware devices.
• In contrast, a general standard SDR design is implemented as portable software (high-lever codes) running on industry- standard equipment. This is termed “SOFTWARE RADIO”.
• Typically, all of the software is written in C and C⁺⁺ running on the Linux operating system.
• The entire system, including the signal processing for the air-interface, is simply a collection of software applications that can run on any general purpose processor (e.g Pentium, Xeon, PowerPc, ARM).
• The software is designed to allow multiple processors to run on same CPU or board, enabling a single server or blade to support multiple different air-interfaces at the same time, with capacity dynamically shared among all operating air-interfaces.
• The applied station subsystem brings together a suite of technologies that together provide flexibility, scalability and cost-effectiveness to network operators.
• The core Software Radio technology enables true multi-standard operation and takes advantage of industry-standard COTs servers, reducing both CAPEX and OPEX and significantly reducing requirements for on-site maintenance
• The use of advanced multi-carrier RF heads supports multi-standard operation and dynamic capacity reallocation.
• A switched-fabric standard networking protocol in the front haul makes distributed antenna system (DAS) solutions economical
• IP everywhere in the backhaul and switch connection enables the use of commodity equipment and multiplex network links.
• These benefits are the direct consequences of software-centric approach to the radio access network (RAN).
• The multi-standard software can turn on any of a wide range of server platforms and exploit any of a range of backhaul, fronthaul and RF head equipment, all based around industry-standard, commercially available platforms and networking protocols.
• The applied subsystem enables carriers to allocate valuable spectrum and backhaul resources to broadband data capacity only in those cells where the customers using the broadband service are active at any given time.
• Consequently, with the subsystems, network operators can focus infrastructure investments on system configurations that not only meet their specific requirements for features and scalability at minimal cost, but also significantly enhance business model flexibility through enabling software-only upgrades and on-demand spectrum and capacity allocation.
• In fact the SDR applied subsystem networks in both microcell and innovative vehicle picocell, enterprise in-building, and home deployments can enjoy significant cost and flexibility advantages over conventional alternatives.

 Reducing the cost and complexity of managing wireless-based networks for 5G

• This involves :
• Remotely access, monitor and control hybrid networks of terrestrial and satellite broadband network equipment including:
• Routers
• Switches
• Servers
• Hubs/ Gateways
• Fire walls
• Wireless Access Points
• VSAT MODEMS
• Antenna Controllers
• RF Amplifiers
• GPS devices
• Power Controllers
• Reduce the time and resources spent on wireless network maintenance, support and recovery using SDR
• Increase business availability by providing always-up network monitoring and management.
• Enforce management security and enable compliance even during outages
• Centralize and standardize control of core and remote network infrastructure.
• SATCOM NFV:
• Satellite Network Function Visualization tool is a three-dimensional analysis and visualization environment that displays all scenario information from the software suite.
• The Visualization Provides an intuitive view of complex mission and orbit geometries by displaying realistic 3-D views of land, sea, air and space assets, sensor projections; Orbit trajectories and assorted visual cues and analysis aids.
• The tool takes advantage of today’s readily available Windows and Unix workstations to provide state-of-the-art interactive graphics performance. Its graphics are driven by precise, validated and verified numerical data drived from experts.
• How can NFV tool benefit your SATCOM NETWORK needs?
• One software tool for 3D-Visualization of integrated Land, Sea, Air and Space Assets.
• Ideal situational awareness tool for all phase of complex SATCOM NETWORK FUNCTIONS, and intelligent programs with real-time data interfacing
• 3-D Visualization with heads-up data display to support operations
• Professional-quality images, animations, and videos for executive briefings and presentations
• High-Fidelity (HiFi) Visualization of specialized design, analyses, and operations pertaining to collision avoidance, network coverage assessment and planning, Orbit determination, real-time Visualization, communication, Link analysis, and interference masking systems.
• Rapid anomaly resolution of satellite operations
• 3-D Visualization of Sophisticate Networks Integrations
• Visual design tools for specialized system engineering tasks
• Advanced Visualization Options provides advanced visualization and output Optimization such as terrain Visualization; a “Flying-camera” capability for sophisticated animation and video production, High-fidelity scence Modeling, Visual design tools for solar-array sizing and sensor Obscuration analysis, and highly realistic scence creation with day-light modeling and anti-aliasing.

Andrew Aroh is President of SSPI Nigeria