Present-day Verticals and Where to Find Them: A Data-driven Study on the Transition to 5G

Much of the research about 5G networks deals with emerging or upcoming applications, e.g., self-driving cars and virtual reality. In this paper, we focus on present-day Internet services and assess which of them can benefit the most integration within 5G, i.e., which of today's service providers are the most likely to become 5G verticals. To this end, we leverage a large-scale, real-world, crowd-sourced dataset representing the data required by thousands of smartphone apps, and study the data rate and sparseness associated with each app. We argue that high-data rate, low-sparseness apps have the most to gain from 5G integration, and find that this category includes not only video streaming, but also peer-to-peer file transfer and mobile gaming applications.This work is supported by the European Commission through the H2020 5G-TRANSFORMER project (Project ID 761536

Analysis of Latency-Aware Network Slicing in 5G Packet xHaul Networks

Packet-switched xHaul networks are a scalable solution enabling convergent transport of diverse types of radio data flows, such as fronthaul/midhaul/backhaul (FH/MH/BH) flows, between remote sites and a central site (hub) in 5G radio access networks (RANs). Such networks can be realized using the cost-efficient Ethernet technology, which enhanced with time-sensitive networking (TSN) features allows for prioritized transmission of latency-sensitive fronthaul flows. Provisioning of multiple types of 5G services of different service requirements in a shared network, commonly referred to as network slicing, requires adequate handling of transported data flows in order to satisfy particular service/slice requirements. In this work, we investigate two traffic prioritization policies, namely, flow-aware (FA) and latency-aware (LA), in a packet-switched xHaul network supporting slices of different latency requirements. We evaluate the effectiveness of the policies in a network-planning case study, where virtualized radio processing resources allocated at the processing pool (PP) facilities, for two slices related to enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) services, are subject to optimization. Using numerical experiments, we analyze PP cost savings from applying the LA policy (vs. FA) in various network scenarios. The savings in active PPs reach up to 40%-60% in ring scenarios and 30% in a mesh network, whereas the gains in overall PP cost are up to 20% for the cost values assumed in the analysis

Analysis of Latency-Aware Network Slicing in 5G Packet xHaul Networks

Packet-switched xHaul networks are a scalable solution enabling convergent transport of diverse types of radio data flows, such as fronthaul/midhaul/backhaul (FH/MH/BH) flows, between remote sites and a central site (hub) in 5G radio access networks (RANs). Such networks can be realized using the cost-efficient Ethernet technology, which enhanced with time-sensitive networking (TSN) features allows for prioritized transmission of latency-sensitive fronthaul flows. Provisioning of multiple types of 5G services of different service requirements in a shared network, commonly referred to as network slicing, requires adequate handling of transported data flows in order to satisfy particular service/slice requirements. In this work, we investigate two traffic prioritization policies, namely, flow-aware (FA) and latency-aware (LA), in a packet-switched xHaul network supporting slices of different latency requirements. We evaluate the effectiveness of the policies in a network-planning case study, where virtualized radio processing resources allocated at the processing pool (PP) facilities, for two slices related to enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) services, are subject to optimization. Using numerical experiments, we analyze PP cost savings from applying the LA policy (vs. FA) in various network scenarios. The savings in active PPs reach up to 40%-60% in ring scenarios and 30% in a mesh network, whereas the gains in overall PP cost are up to 20% for the cost values assumed in the analysis

Analysis of Latency-Aware Network Slicing in 5G Packet xHaul Networks

Packet-switched xHaul networks are a scalable solution enabling convergent transport of diverse types of radio data flows, such as fronthaul / midhaul / backhaul (FH / MH / BH) flows, between remote sites and a central site (hub) in 5G radio access networks (RANs). Such networks can be realized using the cost-efficient Ethernet technology, which enhanced with time-sensitive networking (TSN) features allows for prioritized transmission of latency-sensitive fronthaul flows. Provisioning of multiple types of 5G services of different service requirements in a shared network, commonly referred to as network slicing, requires adequate handling of transported data flows in order to satisfy particular service / slice requirements. In this work, we investigate two traffic prioritization policies, namely, flowaware (FA) and latency-aware (LA), in a packet-switched xHaul network supporting slices of different latency requirements. We evaluate the effectiveness of the policies in a networkplanning case study, where virtualized radio processing resources allocated at the processing pool (PP) facilities, for two slices related to enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) services, are subject to optimization. Using numerical experiments, we analyze PP cost savings from applying the LA policy (vs. FA) in various network scenarios. The savings in active PPs reach up to 40% − 60% in ring scenarios and 30% in a mesh network, whereas the gains in overall PP cost are up to 20% for the cost values assumed in the analysis

Experimental SDN Control Solutions for Automatic Operations and Management of 5G Services in a Fixed Mobile Converged Packet-Optical Network

5G networks will impose network operators to accommodate services demanding heterogeneous and stringent requirements in terms of increased bandwidth, reduced latency, higher availability, etc. as well as enabling emerging capabilities such as slicing. Operators will be then forced to make notable investments in their infrastructure but the revenue is not envisaged to be proportional. Thereby, operators are seeking for more cost-effective solutions to keep their competitiveness. An appealing solution is to integrate all (broadband) services including both fixed and mobile in a convergent way. This is referred to as Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC). FMC allows seamlessly serving any kind of access service over the same network infrastructure (access, aggregation and core) and relying on common set of control and operation functions. To this end, FMC leverages the benefits provided by Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). First, we discuss some of the explored FMC solutions and technologies, from both structural and functional perspectives Next, focusing on a Multi-Layer (Packet and Optical) Aggregation Network, we report two implemented and experimentally validated SDN/NFV orchestration architectures providing feasibleThis work has been partially funded by the Spanish Ministry MINECO projects DESTELLO (TEC2015-69256-R) and 5G-REFINE (TEC2017-88373-R), and the EU H2020 5G TRANSFORMER project (grant no. 761536)

Satellite networking integration in the 5G ecosystem: Research trends and open challenges

The envisioned 5G ecosystem will be composed of heterogeneous networks based on different technologies and communication means, including satellite communication networks. The latter can help increase the capabilities of terrestrial networks, especially in terms of higher coverage, reliability, and availability, contributing to the achievement of some of the 5G KPIs. However, technological changes are not immediate. Many current satellite communication networks are based on proprietary hardware, which hinders the integration with future 5G terrestrial networks as well as the adoption of new protocols and algorithms. On the other hand, the two main paradigms that are emerging in the networking scenario \u2014 software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization \u2014 can change this perspective. In this respect, this article presents first an overview of the main research works in the field of SDN satellite networks in order to understand the already proposed solutions. Then some open challenges are described in light of the network slicing concept by 5G virtualization, along with a possible roadmap including different network virtualization levels. The remaining unsolved problems are related to the development and deployment of a complete integration of satellite components in the 5G ecosystem

A layered middleware for ot/it convergence to empower industry 5.0 applications

We are still in the midst of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), with more manufacturing lines being labeled as smart thanks to the integration of advanced ICT in Cyber–Physical Systems (CPS). While I4.0 aims to provision cognitive CPS systems, the nascent Industry 5.0 (I5.0) era goes a step beyond, aiming to build cross-border, sustainable, and circular value chains benefiting society as a whole. An enabler of this vision is the integration of data and AI in the industrial decision-making process, which does not exhibit yet a coordination between the Operation and Information Technology domains (OT/IT). This work proposes an architectural approach and an accompanying software prototype addressing the OT/IT convergence problem. The approach is based on a two-layered middleware solution, where each layer aims to better serve the specific differentiated requirements of the OT and IT layers. The proposal is validated in a real testbed, employing actual machine data, showing the capacity of the components to gracefully scale and serve increasing data volumes

Sharing gNB components in RAN slicing: A perspective from 3GPP/NFV standards

To implement the next Generation NodeBs (gNBs) that are present in every Radio Access Network (RAN) slice subnet, Network Function Virtualization (NFV) enables the deployment of some of the gNB components as Virtual Networks Functions (VNFs). Deploying individual VNF instances for these components could guarantee the customization of each RAN slice subnet. However, due to the multiplicity of VNFs, the required amount of virtual resources will be greater compared to the case where a single VNF instance carries the aggregated traffic of all the RAN slice subnets. Sharing gNB components between RAN slice subnets could optimize the trade-off between customization, isolation and resource utilization. In this article, we shed light on the key aspects in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)/NFV standards for sharing gNB components. First, we identify four possible scenarios for sharing gNB components. Then, we analyze the impact of sharing on the customization level of each RAN slice subnet. Later, we determine the main factors that enable isolation between RAN slice subnets. Finally, we propose a 3GPP/NFV-based description model to define the lifecycle management of shared gNB componentsThis work is partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund (Project TEC2016-76795-C6-4-R)Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (FPU Grant 17/01844)Andalusian Knowledge Agency (project ATIC-241-UGR18)

Survivable virtual network mapping with content connectivity against multiple link failures in optical metro networks

Network connectivity, i.e., the reachability of any network node from all other nodes, is often considered as the default network survivability metric against failures. However, in the case of a large-scale disaster disconnecting multiple network components, network connectivity may not be achievable. On the other hand, with the shifting service paradigm towards the cloud in today's networks, most services can still be provided as long as at least a content replica is available in all disconnected network partitions. As a result, the concept of content connectivity has been introduced as a new network survivability metric under a large-scale disaster. Content connectivity is defined as the reachability of content from every node in a network under a specific failure scenario. In this work, we investigate how to ensure content connectivity in optical metro networks. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions and develop what we believe to be a novel mathematical formulation to map a virtual network over a physical network such that content connectivity for the virtual network is ensured against multiple link failures in the physical network. In our numerical results, obtained under various network settings, we compare the performance of mapping with content connectivity and network connectivity and show that mapping with content connectivity can guarantee higher survivability, lower network bandwidth utilization, and significant improvement of service availability

A secure link-layer connectivity platform for multi-site NFV services

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is a key technology for network automation and has been instrumental to materialize the disruptive view of 5G and beyond mobile networks. In particular, 5G embraces NFV to support the automated and agile provision of telecommunication and vertical services as a composition of versatile virtualized components, referred to as Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). It provides a high degree of flexibility in placing these components on distributed NFV infrastructures (e.g., at the network edge, close to end users). Still, this flexibility creates new challenges in terms of VNF connectivity. To address these challenges, we introduce a novel secure link-layer connectivity platform, L2S. Our solution can automatically be deployed and configured as a regular multi-site NFV service, providing the abstraction of a layer-2 switch that offers link-layer connectivity to VNFs deployed on remote NFV sites. Inter-site communications are effectively protected using existing security solutions and protocols, such as IP security (IPsec). We have developed a functional prototype of L2S using open-source software technologies. Our evaluation results indicate that this prototype can perform IP tunneling and cryptographic operations at Gb/s data rates. Finally, we have validated L2S using a multi-site NFV ecosystem at the Telefonica Open Network Innovation Centre (5TONIC), using our solution to support a multicast-based IP television service.This article has partially been supported by the European H2020 FISHY Project (grant agreement 952644), and the TRUE5G project funded by the Spanish National Research Agency (PID2019-108713RB-C52/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)