Page 17 - ITU Journal Future and evolving technologies Volume 2 (2021), Issue 6 – Wireless communication systems in beyond 5G era

ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies, Volume 2 (2021), Issue 6

3. THE ADVENT AND THE EVOLUTION OF
OSS/BSS Service, VNFs and 5G
infrastructure Orchestrator
description
In 2016, 5G standardization effort started. In partic‐
TC
EM 1 EM 2 EM i ular, the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sec‐
VNFM(s) tor (ITU‐T) Focus Group on IMT‐2020 concluded its pre‐
VNF 1 VNF 2 VNF i
NMS standardization activities in December 2016 and around
the same time, ITU‐R concluded its Recommendation “Vi‐
IC Virtualised
Virtualised Virtualised sion of IMT beyond 2020” [16]. Side by side, in 2015,
Computing Storage Network
Virtualisation layer the New Generation Mobile Networks (NMGM) Alliance,
VIM consisting of Members (i.e. operators) with contributions
from Sponsors (i.e. vendors) and Advisors (i.e. research
NFVI Hardware Resources MANO entities) Partners, had already published its white pa‐
per/deliverable on the 5G vision [17]. The collaborative
Fig. 3 – ETSI MANO SDN‐NFV architecture. and global structure of this standardization process and
the standardization bodies and the entities involved, have
already been shown in Fig. 2. But, what was the key ele‐
• the MANO;
ment that mainly stimulated the paradigm shift from LTE
• the Operation/Business Support Scheme (OSS/BSS), to 5G?
the set of applications (e.g., sysytem level and man‐
agement) that are used by service providers to pro‐ It is now important to notice that the characteristics and
vide network services. performances achieved by LTE had made this wireless
technology highly attractive for several verticals, apart
First, the NMS includes the Tenant SDN Controller (TC), from mobile broadband. However, LTE has inherent
inside a tenant’s domain, which dynamically manages limits that cannot make it suitable for a wide range of
virtual network functions for tenant’s services. Next, it heterogeneous verticals. This advancement very clearly
also includes the Element Management (EM), responsi‐ emerges from the NMGM Alliance’s deliverable statement
ble for all the aspects/events related to virtual network “[...] The boundaries between personal and enterprise us‐
functions such as con iguration, performance, fault, secu‐ age of devices will blur. [...]” [17], which clearly shows
rity, etc. Second, the NFVI consists of an Infrastructure this change of paradigm between 1G‐4G and 5G. With 5G,
SDN Controller (IC), which sets up and manages network the service requested by the UE drives the goals of the
resources to guarantee available connectivity for inter‐ communication network and the subsequent design of
virtual‐network‐function communications. It also logi‐ network architecture and characteristics.
cally hosts the physical resources and their mapping into
virtual resources (through the virtualisation layer). Fi‐
nally, the MANO hosts the Virtualized Infrastructure Man‐ Broadband access in dense areas Broadband access everywhere
ager (VIM), which controls and manages the NFVI re‐  Person-to-person or person-to-  50+ Mbps Everywhere,
sources and the IC. Next, the Virtual Network Function group video communication  Highly flexible network to be
deployed under ultra-low cost
with extremely high resolution,
Manager (VNFM) con igures and manages the life cycle of  Smart Office, requirements.
virtual network functions in its network domain. Finally,  Cloud services provided by Higher user mobility
operators,
 High Speed Train,
there is(are) also orchestrator(s) for NFVI resource man‐  HD Video/Photo Sharing in  Remote Computing,
agement across different VIMs, and for managing the life Stadium/Open-Air Gathering.  Moving Hot Spots,
cycle of network services. Massive Internet of Things  3D (three dimensional)
 Smart Wearables, Connectivity: Aircrafts,
 Sensor Networks, balloonists, gliders, or
This discussion has shown the growing virtualisation pro‐  Mobile Video Surveillance. skydivers.
cess, starting from the outsourcing of computing and Extreme real time communications Lifeline communications
widening to the virtualisation of routing, data and con‐  Tactile Internet.  Public safety and emergency
services,
trol plane, and of any network function. This process Ultra-reliable communications  Robust communications in case
 Automated Traffic Control and
has been reaching an additional level of generalisation by Driving, of natural disasters.
also including the virtualisation of the protocol stack [1].  Collaborative Robots, Broadcast-like services
 News and Information
The idea behind Programmable Protocol Stack (PPS) is  eHealth Extreme Life Critical,  Local, Regional and National
 Remote Object Manipulation
to realise a software‐based environment for the adaptive (e.g. Remote Surgery), Broadcast-like Services
management of protocols and protocol stack layers. This  3D Connectivity via Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles,
means that the system can reassign/change parameters,  Public Safety.
update services, and replace functionalities according to
the needs of the users, network, and environment. This Fig. 4 – Groups of main use cases/verticals identi ied in [17].
has become highly necessary due to the dif iculty of satis‐
faction and prediction of QoS requirements in highly het‐
erogeneous scenarios.

© International Telecommunication Union, 2021 5