Dynamic tunnel switching for SDN-based cellular core networks
Johanna Heinonen, Tapio Partti, Marko J. Kallio, Kari Lappalainen, Hannu Flinck, Jarmo Hillo · 2014
Future cellular networks are faced with the challenge of coping with significant traffic growth without increasing operating costs. Network virtualization and Software Defined Networking (SDN) are emerging solutions for fine-grained control and management of networks. In this article, we present a new dynamic tunnel switching technique for SDN-based cellular core networks. The technique introduces a virtualized Evolved Packet Core (EPC) gateway with the capability to select and dynamically switch the user plane processing element for each user. Dynamic GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) termination enables switching the mobility anchor of an active session between a cloud environment, where general purpose hardware is in use, and a fast path implemented with dedicated hardware. We describe a prototype implementation of the technique based on an OpenStack cloud, an OpenFlow controller with GTP tunnel switching, and a dedicated fast path element.