Summary

Advanced data plane programmability (ADPP) as an underlying technology for network softwarization enhances software-defined networking (SDN) with more agility and flexibility to meet the requirements of IMT‑2020 networks specified in Recommendation ITU-T Y.3150. Recommendation ITU‑T Y.3152 defines the advanced data plane programmability technology, which allows network operators to benefit from a ''top-down'' design process by defining network processing behaviour in a high-level language. In other words, the advanced data plane programmability enables network operators to define specific data plane protocol (including packet formats) and to support extended network functionalities. The advanced data plane programmability leads to flexibility and automation, which allows network operators to fully exploit data plane resources to enable their network applications.