Page 23 - 5G Basics - Core Network Aspects

Core network aspects 1

One problem facing current networks is that economic considerations have caused operation and
management systems to be designed specifically for each network component. Because the proliferation of
unorganized, disorderly management functionality, increases complexity and operational costs, FNs should
provide highly efficient operation and management systems through more integrated management
interfaces.
The other problem is that current network operation and management systems largely depend on network
operators' skills. A large difficulty exists therefore in how to make network management tasks easier and to
inherit workers' knowledge. In the process of network management and operation, tasks that require human
skill will remain, such as high-level decisions based on years of accumulated experience. For these tasks, it is
important that even a novice operator without special skills can manage large-scale and complicated
networks easily, with the support of automation. At the same time, effective transfer of knowledge and
know-how between generations should also be considered.

8.9 Mobility
FNs are recommended to provide mobility that facilitates high-speed and large-scale networks in an
environment where a huge number of nodes can dynamically move across heterogeneous networks. FNs are
recommended to support mobile services irrespective of node mobility capability.
Rationale: Mobile networks are continuously evolving by incorporating new technologies. Future mobile
networks therefore are expected to include various heterogeneous networks, ranging from macro to micro,
pico, and even femtocell, and diverse types of nodes equipped with a variety of access technology, because
a single-access network cannot provide ubiquitous coverage and a continuously high quality of service-level
communications for a huge number of nodes. On the other hand, existing mobile networks, such as cellular
networks, have been designed from a centralized perspective and main signalling functionalities regarding
mobility are located at the core network. However, this approach may limit the operational efficiency
because signalling of all traffic is handled by centralized systems so that scalability and performance issues
arise. From this perspective, highly scalable architecture for distributed access nodes, mechanisms for
operators to manage distributed mobile networks, and optimized routes for application data and signalling
data, should be supported for future networks.
Since the distributed mobile network architecture facilitates deployment ease of new access technologies by
flexibly locating mobility functionalities at the access levels, and optimized mobility by short-distance
backhauling and high-speed networks, it is the key for providing mobility in future networks.

Technologies providing mobility services irrespective of a node's capability exist. However, this service is not
easy when the node has limited capability, such as a sensor. Therefore, how to universally provide mobility
should be considered in FNs.

8.10 Optimization
FNs are recommended to provide sufficient performance by optimizing network equipment capacity based
on service requirement and user demand. FNs are recommended to perform various optimizations within
the network with consideration of various physical limitations of network equipment.

Rationale: The spread of broadband access will encourage the appearance of various services with different
characteristics and will further widen the variety of requirements among each service, such as bandwidth,
delay, etc. Current networks have been designed to meet the highest level of requirement for the services
with a maximum number of users, and the transmission capacity of the equipment that is provisioned for the
services is usually over-specified for most users and services. If this model is sustained while user demand
increases, the network equipment in the future will face various physical limitations, such as transmission
capacity of optical fibre, operation frequency of electrical devices, etc.
For this reason, FNs should optimize capacity of network equipment, and also perform optimizations within
the network with consideration to various physical limitations of network equipment.

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