LTE Edge Network Enhancement with NFV-based Core Functionalities
Ioannis Giannoulakis, Emmanouil Kafetzakis, Michail‐Alexandros Kourtis, George Xylouris, Anastasios Kourtis, Dimitrios Makris · 2017
This paper describes the experimentation on the Future Internet Research & Experimentation (FIRE) Long Term Evolution (LTE) testbeds for open experimentation (FLEX) facilities by combining the existing Evolved Node B (eNB) with an execution infrastructure. In this direction, LTE Edge Network Enhancement with Core Functionalities (LENA) project will enhance the LTE FLEX testbed with a Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Point-of-Presence, for deploying core functionalities as Virtual Network Functions (VNF) at the networks edge. This practice is consistent to the major trends in current communication network technologies. From technical point of view, the proposed experiment will investigate the deployment and migration of Evolved Packet Core (EPC) S-GW as a VNF, aiming to increase responsiveness and to reduce the traffic load of the core network. Edge S-GW VNF solution is expected to be beneficial in cases of high end-user density and nomadic end-user behavior. To achieve its goals, LENA will be based upon well-established, open-source NFV orchestration and virtualization management tools. Following the experimentation described by LENA, the upgraded environment of the FLEX facility will be exploited and verified, leveraging on the high potential for improvements relevant to the NFV domain.