SDN/NFV-enabled satellite communications networks: opportunities, scenarios and challenges

In the context of next generation 5G networks, the satellite industry is clearly committed to revisit and revamp the role of satellite communications. As major drivers in the evolution of (terrestrial) fixed and mobile networks, Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) technologies are also being positioned as central technology enablers towards improved and more flexible integration of satellite and terrestrial segments, providing satellite network further service innovation and business agility by advanced network resources management techniques. Through the analysis of scenarios and use cases, this paper provides a description of the benefits that SDN/NFV technologies can bring into satellite communications towards 5G. Three scenarios are presented and analysed to delineate different potential improvement areas pursued through the introduction of SDN/NFV technologies in the satellite ground segment domain. Within each scenario, a number of use cases are developed to gain further insight into specific capabilities and to identify the technical challenges stemming from them.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Integrated Network Management of Hybrid Networks

We describe our collaborative efforts towards the design and implementation of a next generation integrated network management system for hybrid networks (INMS/HN). We describe the overall software architecture of the system at its current stage of development. This network management system is specifically designed to address issues relevant for complex heterogeneous networks consisting of seamlessly interoperable terrestrial and satellite networks. Network management systems are a key element for interoperability in such networks. We describe the integration of configuration management and performance management. The next step in this integration is fault management. In particular we describe the object model, issues of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), browsing tools and performance data graphical widget displays, management information database (MIB) organization issues. Several components of the system are being commercialized by Hughes Network Systems. A revised version of this report has been published in Proceedings of the 1st Conference of Commercial Development of Space, Part One, pp. 345-350, Albuquerque, New Mexico, January 7-11, 1996.</ul

Hybrid Network Management

We describe our collaborative efforts towards the design and implementation of a next generation integrated network management system for hybrid network (INMS/HN). We describe the overall software architecture of the system at its current stage of development. This network management system if specifically designed to address issues relevant for complex heterogeneous networks consisting of seamlessly interoperable terrestrial and satellite networks. Network management systems are a key element for interoperability in such networks. We describe the integration of configuration management and performance management. The next step in this integration is fault management. In particular we describe the object model, issues of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), browsing tools and performance data graphical widget displays, management, information database (MIB) organization issues. Several components of the system are being commercialized by Hughes Networks Systems. A revised version of this technical report has been published in Proceedings of the AIAA: 16th International Communications Satellite Systems Conference and Exhibit, Part 1, pp. 490-500, Washington, D.C., February 25- 29, 1996.</ul

Mobility management: deployment and adaptability aspects through mobile data traffic analysis

The expected boost in mobile data traffic and the evolution towards the next generation of networks are making cellular operators reconsider whether current approaches for handling mobility could be improved, according to the characteristics of the mobile traffic that actually flows through real networks. In this work, we make use of extensive analysis of real network traces to infer the main characteristics of mobile data traffic for a particular operator. Our analysis focuses on the features related to mobility, i.e., location information, number of handovers, or duration of the data traffic exchange. New techniques to gather the mobility characteristics of the user based on data and control packets correlation are designed and applied to compare the gains of deploying different mobility management approaches.The research leading to these results has received funding from the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement 318115 (Connectivity management for eneRgy Op- timised Wireless Dense networks, CROWD). The work of Antonio de la Oliva has also been funded by the EU H2020 5G-Crosshaul Project (grant no. 671598)

Network Management System for (FUTON-like) Radio-over- Fiber Infrastructure

EU-Project FUTON Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) infrastructure proposes high transmission rates at small antenna costs, implying competitive CAPEX for next generation networks. But to be cost-efficient, it needs to employ new network architectures and intelligent technology solutions for decreasing network operational costs. The RoF Network Manager manages the network equipment on the optical front haul between the Central Unit (CU) and all Remote Antenna Units (RAU)s connected by it, as well as the communication links, while enabling end-to-end service problem resolution and service quality management by the FUTON Middleware. Although a significant amount of prior research work can be found in the literature related to RoF, there is still significant lack of technologies concerning RoF networks management. RoF Manager and its sub-systems target to fill such gap, proposing a novel concept in the form of Channel Forwarding Table (CFT). RoF Manager follows an autonomous and generic network management framework, designed to be scalable in terms of adding new network elements (NEs). It targets multitechnology, multi-service and multi-vendor NEs in the network using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). It can also provide alternative paths in case of failure. This work puts forward a new paradigm towards RoF management solution managing network performance, network faults, network security and configurations for convergent networks