Page 309 - ITU-T Focus Group IMT-2020 Deliverables

ITU-T Focus Group IMT-2020 Deliverables 5

1 Scope
This document proposes a cloud-based unified fixed and mobile convergence network architecture in
IMT-2020 network (called Unified Network Integrated Cloud) with the definition of related functions and key
technologies.

2 References

[1] Recommendation ITU-T Y.2320 (2015), Requirements for Virtualization of Control Network entities
in Next Generation Network evolution.

[2] ETSI GS NFV 001 V1.1.1 (Oct. 2013), Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV); Use Cases.
[3] Recommendation ITU-T Y.3300 (2014), Framework of software-defined networking.

3 Abbreviations and acronyms

FMC Fixed and Mobile Convergence

CUPS Control and User Plane Separation
SDN Software Define Network

NFV Network Function Virtualization

UNIC Unified Network Integrated Cloud

4 Overview

Traditionally, telecom networks for different access technologies, i.e., cellular, fixed broadband and WLAN,
have been developing separately and become verticals (see Appendix). Some significant drawbacks have
been identified:
– Each vertical network has its own user identity, charging and billing system. Subscribers have to use
specific identity for each network and deal with bills for each network. There is lack of service
consistency and continuity across the vertical networks. All these decrease the user experience.
– Each vertical network is maintained separately and deep coordination between these networks is
hard, while in fact some of equipment can be the same or shared across networks from the
maintenance point of view, which will increase the OPEX and CAPEX.

To resolve the issues above, this report provides a cloud based FMC architecture for next generation network,
called Unified Network Integrated Cloud (UNIC), in which different kinds of access technologies are
aggregated. The following questions are suggested to be taken into account:
– Can control plane functions be reused among different access networks, e.g., identity, charging, user
data?
– Can control plane functions be merged or coordinated to realize unified control among different
access networks?
– Can UP functions be merged or shared?
– Can Value-add functions be shared among different access networks?

UNIC is facilitated by technologies such as Control and User Plane Separation, Service Chain, NFV [1][2], SDN
[3], cloud and other key technologies. Since UNIC is a unified FMC architecture across different access
technologies, it has the following advantages:
– Similar functionalities can be reused, which can save CAPEX;
– Single and isolated network can be provided and maintained which can save the OPEX;

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