Research Article
Utilizing OpenFlow, SDN and NFV in GPRS Core Network
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-319-13326-3_18, author={Martin Nagy and Ivan Kotuliak}, title={Utilizing OpenFlow, SDN and NFV in GPRS Core Network}, proceedings={Testbeds and Research Infrastructure: Development of Networks and Communities. 9th International ICST Conference, TridentCom 2014, Guangzhou, China, May 5-7, 2014, Revised Selected Papers}, proceedings_a={TRIDENTCOM}, year={2014}, month={11}, keywords={3GPP networks GPRS SDN Software Defined Networking NFV Network Functions Virtualization OpenFlow Signaling and user data separation Wireless networks Cellular networks PCU-ng PCUng ePCU vGSN GRE}, doi={10.1007/978-3-319-13326-3_18} }- Martin Nagy
Ivan Kotuliak
Year: 2014
Utilizing OpenFlow, SDN and NFV in GPRS Core Network
TRIDENTCOM
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-13326-3_18
Abstract
Since GPRS introduction, mobile networks had gone a long way, however GPRS with its EDGE enhancement is still widely used, but the architecture proves to be outdated, complex and often hard to integrate with other technologies. With the introduction of new networking approaches such as SDN and NFV, many problems regarding GPRS emerge. In this paper we present a new architecture for delivery of GPRS service which uses modern approaches such as SDN and NFV. This architecture simplifies the whole network by moving mobile network intelligence to the SDN controller, while removing old, complex nodes such as SGSN and GGSN and mobile protocols such as GTP. This brings the network flexibility, programmability, service elasticity and vendor independency. No changes on the radio access network or the mobile terminal are required to deploy our simplified GPRS architecture, so backward compatibility and interoperability is ensured. Proposed architecture was implemented and tested with real radio access network and mobile terminal.
