View on 5G Architecture: Version 1.0

The current white paper focuses on the produced results after one year research mainly from 16 projects working on the abovementioned domains. During several months, representatives from these projects have worked together to identify the key findings of their projects and capture the commonalities and also the different approaches and trends. Also they have worked to determine the challenges that remain to be overcome so as to meet the 5G requirements. The goal of 5G Architecture Working Group is to use the results captured in this white paper to assist the participating projects achieve a common reference framework. The work of this working group will continue during the following year so as to capture the latest results to be produced by the projects and further elaborate this reference framework. The 5G networks will be built around people and things and will natively meet the requirements of three groups of use cases: • Massive broadband (xMBB) that delivers gigabytes of bandwidth on demand • Massive machine-type communication (mMTC) that connects billions of sensors and machines • Critical machine-type communication (uMTC) that allows immediate feedback with high reliability and enables for example remote control over robots and autonomous driving. The demand for mobile broadband will continue to increase in the next years, largely driven by the need to deliver ultra-high definition video. However, 5G networks will also be the platform enabling growth in many industries, ranging from the IT industry to the automotive, manufacturing industries entertainment, etc. 5G will enable new applications like for example autonomous driving, remote control of robots and tactile applications, but these also bring a lot of challenges to the network. Some of these are related to provide low latency in the order of few milliseconds and high reliability compared to fixed lines. But the biggest challenge for 5G networks will be that the services to cater for a diverse set of services and their requirements. To achieve this, the goal for 5G networks will be to improve the flexibility in the architecture. The white paper is organized as follows. In section 2 we discuss the key business and technical requirements that drive the evolution of 4G networks into the 5G. In section 3 we provide the key points of the overall 5G architecture where as in section 4 we elaborate on the functional architecture. Different issues related to the physical deployment in the access, metro and core networks of the 5G network are discussed in section 5 while in section 6 we present software network enablers that are expected to play a significant role in the future networks. Section 7 presents potential impacts on standardization and section 8 concludes the white paper

Multimedia delivery in the future internet

The term “Networked Media” implies that all kinds of media including text, image, 3D graphics, audio and video are produced, distributed, shared, managed and consumed on-line through various networks, like the Internet, Fiber, WiFi, WiMAX, GPRS, 3G and so on, in a convergent manner [1]. This white paper is the contribution of the Media Delivery Platform (MDP) cluster and aims to cover the Networked challenges of the Networked Media in the transition to the Future of the Internet. Internet has evolved and changed the way we work and live. End users of the Internet have been confronted with a bewildering range of media, services and applications and of technological innovations concerning media formats, wireless networks, terminal types and capabilities. And there is little evidence that the pace of this innovation is slowing. Today, over one billion of users access the Internet on regular basis, more than 100 million users have downloaded at least one (multi)media file and over 47 millions of them do so regularly, searching in more than 160 Exabytes1 of content. In the near future these numbers are expected to exponentially rise. It is expected that the Internet content will be increased by at least a factor of 6, rising to more than 990 Exabytes before 2012, fuelled mainly by the users themselves. Moreover, it is envisaged that in a near- to mid-term future, the Internet will provide the means to share and distribute (new) multimedia content and services with superior quality and striking flexibility, in a trusted and personalized way, improving citizens’ quality of life, working conditions, edutainment and safety. In this evolving environment, new transport protocols, new multimedia encoding schemes, cross-layer inthe network adaptation, machine-to-machine communication (including RFIDs), rich 3D content as well as community networks and the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) overlays are expected to generate new models of interaction and cooperation, and be able to support enhanced perceived quality-of-experience (PQoE) and innovative applications “on the move”, like virtual collaboration environments, personalised services/ media, virtual sport groups, on-line gaming, edutainment. In this context, the interaction with content combined with interactive/multimedia search capabilities across distributed repositories, opportunistic P2P networks and the dynamic adaptation to the characteristics of diverse mobile terminals are expected to contribute towards such a vision. Based on work that has taken place in a number of EC co-funded projects, in Framework Program 6 (FP6) and Framework Program 7 (FP7), a group of experts and technology visionaries have voluntarily contributed in this white paper aiming to describe the status, the state-of-the art, the challenges and the way ahead in the area of Content Aware media delivery platforms

Wavelength reconfigurability for next generation optical access networks

Next generation optical access networks should not only increase the capacity but also be able to redistribute the capacity on the fly in order to manage larger variations in traffic patterns. Wavelength reconfigurability is the instrument to enable such capability of network-wide bandwidth redistribution since it allows dynamic sharing of both wavelengths and timeslots in WDM-TDM optical access networks. However, reconfigurability typically requires tunable lasers and tunable filters at the user side, resulting in cost-prohibitive optical network units (ONU). In this dissertation, I propose a novel concept named cyclic-linked flexibility to address the cost-prohibitive problem. By using the cyclic-linked flexibility, the ONU needs to switch only within a subset of two pre-planned wavelengths, however, the cyclic-linked structure of wavelengths allows free bandwidth to be shifted to any wavelength by a rearrangement process. Rearrangement algorithm are developed to demonstrate that the cyclic-linked flexibility performs close to the fully flexible network in terms of blocking probability, packet delay, and packet loss. Furthermore, the evaluation shows that the rearrangement process has a minimum impact to in-service ONUs. To realize the cyclic-linked flexibility, a family of four physical architectures is proposed. PRO-Access architecture is suitable for new deployments and disruptive upgrades in which the network reach is not longer than 20 km. WCL-Access architecture is suitable for metro-access merger with the reach up to 100 km. PSB-Access architecture is suitable to implement directly on power-splitter-based PON deployments, which allows coexistence with current technologies. The cyclically-linked protection architecture can be used with current and future PON standards when network protection is required

5G Backhaul Challenges and Emerging Research Directions: A Survey

5G is the next cellular generation and is expected to quench the growing thirst for taxing data rates and to enable the Internet of Things. Focused research and standardization work have been addressing the corresponding challenges from the radio perspective while employing advanced features, such as network densi cation, massive multiple-input-multiple-output antennae, coordinated multi-point processing, intercell interference mitigation techniques, carrier aggregation, and new spectrum exploration. Nevertheless, a new bottleneck has emerged: the backhaul. The ultra-dense and heavy traf c cells should be connected to the core network through the backhaul, often with extreme requirements in terms of capacity, latency, availability, energy, and cost ef ciency. This pioneering survey explains the 5G backhaul paradigm, presents a critical analysis of legacy, cutting-edge solutions, and new trends in backhauling, and proposes a novel consolidated 5G backhaul framework. A new joint radio access and backhaul perspective is proposed for the evaluation of backhaul technologies which reinforces the belief that no single solution can solve the holistic 5G backhaul problem. This paper also reveals hidden advantages and shortcomings of backhaul solutions, which are not evident when backhaul technologies are inspected as an independent part of the 5G network. This survey is key in identifying essential catalysts that are believed to jointly pave the way to solving the beyond-2020 backhauling challenge. Lessons learned, unsolved challenges, and a new consolidated 5G backhaul vision are thus presented

Solution strategies of service fulfilment Operation Support Systems for Next Generation Networks

Suomalainen operatiivisten tukijärjestelmien toimittaja tarjoaa ratkaisuja palvelujen aktivointiin, verkkoresurssien hallintaan ja laskutustietojen keruuseen. Nämä ratkaisut ovat pääosin käytössä langattomissa verkoissa. Tässä tutkimuksessa arvioidaan kyseisten ratkaisujen soveltuvuutta palvelutoimitusprosessien automatisointiin tulevaisuuden verkkoympäristöissä. Tarkastelun kohteena ovat runko- ja pääsyverkkojen kiinteät teknologiat, joiden suosio saavuttaa huippunsa seuraavan 5-10 vuoden aikana. Näissä verkoissa palvelujen, kuten yritys-VPN:n tai kuluttajan laajakaistan, aktivointi vaatii monimutkaisen toimitusprosessin, jonka tueksi tarvitaan ensiluokkaista tukijärjestelmää. Teknologiakatsauksen jälkeen tutkimuksessa verrataan viitteellistä tuoteportfoliota saatavilla oleviin operatiivisten tukijärjestelmien arkkitehtuurisiin viitekehyksiin, ja analysoidaan sen soveltuvuus tulevaisuuden verkkoympäristöjen palvelutoimitusprosessin automatisointiin. Myös palvelutoimitusprosessien automatisointiin soveltuvien tukijärjestelmien markkinatilanne arvioidaan, ja tämän perusteella tutkitaan optimaalisinta sovellusstrategiaa. Lopulta voidaan päätellä, että tuoteportfoliolle parhaiten soveltuvin sovellusalue on kuluttajan laajakaistan, ja siihen liittyvien kehittyneempien IP-palveluiden palvelutoimitusprosessien automatisointi.A Finnish Operation Support Systems (OSS) vendor provides solutions for service activation, network inventory and event mediation. These solutions have mostly been deployed in mobile environments. In this thesis it will be studied how feasible it is to use similar solutions for service fulfilment in Next Generation Networks (NGN). NGN is a broad term that describes some key architectural evolutions in telecommunication core and access networks that will be deployed over the next 5 to 10 years. In these networks service, e.g. Triple Play or Virtual Private Network (VPN), activations require an extensive service fulfilment process that must be supported by first-class OSS. After introducing the NGN technologies, the research compares a reference product portfolio to available service fulfilment frameworks and evaluates the applicability. The study analyses the current state of service fulfilment OSS markets and evaluates various solution strategies. Eventually it will be concluded that the most interesting and adequate solution scenario is residential broadband, including value-added IP services

Contributing to the pathway towards 5G experimentation with an SDN-controlled network box

Καθώς η απαίτηση σε ευρυζωνικές υπηρεσίες κινητών επικοινωνιών αυξάνεται ραγδαία, τα υπάρχοντα δίκτυα κινητών επικοινωνιών πλησιάζουν τα όριά τους κάνοντας επιτακτική την ανάγκη εξέλιξής τους η οποία θα επέλθει με την τεχνολογική άφιξη της επόμενης γενιάς κινητών επικοινωνιών, ευρέως γνωστής ως 5G. Το 5G μεταφέρει όλες εκείνες τις δυνατότητες οι οποίες είναι απαραίτητες για να καλυφθούν οι συνεχώς αυξανόμενες ανάγκες σε ευρυζωνικές υπηρεσίες, να υποστηρίξουν το Internet of Things καθώς και να ενοποιήσουν ετερογενείς υπηρεσίες σε διαφορετικές βιομηχανίες. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία στοχεύει να παρουσιάσει το “Network in a box”, ένα καινοτόμο εργαλείο που αναπτύξαμε στο εργαστήριο, το οποίο βασίζεται επάνω στους θεμέλιους λίθους του 5G, το SDN και το NFV. Με το SDN να είναι η νέα προσέγγιση στα δίκτυα κινητών επικοινωνιών, ο έλεγχος διαχωρίζεται από τα δεδομένα παρέχοντας τη δυνατότητα οποιεσδήποτε αποφάσεις ελέγχου, να λαμβάνονται κεντρικά, μετατρέποντας έτσι τις κλασικές δικτυακές συσκευές σε απλά προωθητικά στοιχεία του δικτύου. Η συγκεκριμένη διάταξη μιμείται ένα πραγματικό δίκτυο, το οποίο διαθέτει δυνατότητες αυτο-οργάνωσης και αυτο-βελτίωσης, προσομοιώνοντας τη λειτουργία του 5G δικτύου. Το συγκεκριμένο εργαλείο είναι επίσης ικανό να παράσχει KPI μετρικές του 5G δικτύου κάτω από πραγματικές συνθήκες ενόσω αληθινές δικτυακές συσκευές είναι συνδεδεμένες σε αυτό. Η δομή της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας αναλύεται σε πέντε κεφάλαια. Το πρώτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζει τις προκλήσεις που σύντομα θα κληθούν να αντιμετωπίσουν τα δίκτυα κινητών επικοινωνιών και πώς αυτές μπορούν να καλυφθούν με την τεχνολογία του 5G. Το δεύτερο κεφάλαιο εισάγει την τάση στην αγορά των κινητών επικοινωνιών που διαφένεται πίσω από την επερχόμενη άφιξη του 5G, αποκαλύπτοντας το επιχειρηματικό πλαίσιο για επιχειρήσεις, καταναλωτές και συνεργασίες όπως επίσης και κάποιες περιπτώσεις χρήσης που αντικατοπτρίζουν την διαρκή εξέλιξη στις ευρυζωνικές υπηρεσίες κινητών επικοινωνιών. Το τρίτο κεφάλαιο εμπεριέχει μια μικρή επισκόπηση των τρέχοντων έργων πάνω στο 5G, τα οποία ξεκίνησαν υπό την αιγίδα της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής με τη συνεργασία προμηθευτών τεχνολογίας επικοινωνιών, παρόχων υπηρεσιών, μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων και πανεπιστημίων. Γίνεται επίσης αναφορά στις βασικές τεχνολογίες του 5G και στις δραστηριότητες προτυποποίησής του. Προχωρώντας στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο, περιγράφουμε σε βάθος την αρχιτεκτονική του 5G δικτύου, αναλύοντας τα SDN, NFV, MANO και εξετάζουμε πώς αυτά συνεισφέρουν στη βιωσιμότητα του δικτύου. Τέλος, στο πέμπτο κεφάλαιο εισάγουμε μια καινοτόμο ιδέα που αναπτύξαμε στο εργαστήριο δικτύων του πανεπιστημίου μας, ένα πλήρως αυτόνομο δικτυακό εργαλείο, το “Network in a box”. Παρουσιάζουμε σε βάθος πώς αυτός ο server μπορεί να εγκατασταθεί και να λειτουργήσει καθώς και τις δυνατότητές του κάτω από πραγματικές συνθήκες λειτουργίας του δικτύου, ενώ λαμβάνουν χώρα υποβάθμιση ποιότητας ή μη-διαθεσιμότητα στις δικτυακές ζεύξεις, παρέχοντας επίσης μετρικές από τη λειτουργία του δικτύου σε πραγματικό χρόνο.As the demand in mobile broadband is tremendously increased and the heterogeneity of the services to be covered is growing rapidly, current mobile networks are close to their limits imposing the need of an evolution which is going to be introduced by the next generation technology, the ITU IMT-2020, well known as 5G. 5G brings all those capabilities required to cover the increased mobile broadband needs, support the Internet of Things and bind heterogeneous services in different industries. This diploma thesis aims at presenting the “Network in a box”, an innovative tool we developed which is based on the key 5G principles, SDN and NFV. With Software Defined Networking (SDN) being the new approach in mobile networks, control and data plane are decoupled providing the ability to make any control related decisions centrally and transform legacy network devices to simple forwarding elements. This testbed is a portable emulated network device which is self-managed and self-optimised and can be connected between any real network devices, emulating how the 5G network will perform. This plug & play black-box testbed is also capable of providing KPI metrics of the 5G network under real circumstances when real network devices are connected to it. The structure of this diploma thesis is decomposed in five chapters. Chapter 1 presents the challenges mobile networks will shortly face due to the growing heterogeneous demands in communications towards the year 2020 and beyond and how these can be met with the upcoming 5G technology. Chapter 2 introduces the market trend behind the new era of 5G, revealing the business context for enterprises, consumers, verticals and partnerships as well as some use cases which reflect the continuous mobile broadband evolution. Chapter 3 includes a short overview of the ongoing 5G projects, initiated under the umbrella of the European Commission, with the collaboration of communications technology vendors, telecommunications operators, service providers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and universities. There is also a reference in 5G key enabling technologies and standardisation activities as we move towards the next generation mobile networks technology. Moving forward, chapter 4 describes in detail the technological components of 5G network architecture such as SDN, NFV, MANO and examines how these 5G key enabling technologies contribute to the overall networks’ sustainability. Finally, in chapter 5 we introduce an innovative idea developed in our university’s communications network research laboratory, an autonomous emulated portable network testbed, the “Network in a box”. We present in-depth how this portable server is deployed, operates and demonstrate the way it can be connected to real network elements emulating a real 5G end-to-end customer network. Moreover, in this last chapter we present “Network in a box” capabilities under real network circumstances when link degradations or failures take place, providing also real-time network metrics

The role of communication systems in smart grids: Architectures, technical solutions and research challenges

The purpose of this survey is to present a critical overview of smart grid concepts, with a special focus on the role that communication, networking and middleware technologies will have in the transformation of existing electric power systems into smart grids. First of all we elaborate on the key technological, economical and societal drivers for the development of smart grids. By adopting a data-centric perspective we present a conceptual model of communication systems for smart grids, and we identify functional components, technologies, network topologies and communication services that are needed to support smart grid communications. Then, we introduce the fundamental research challenges in this field including communication reliability and timeliness, QoS support, data management services, and autonomic behaviors. Finally, we discuss the main solutions proposed in the literature for each of them, and we identify possible future research directions