Page 20 - 5G Basics - Core Network Aspects

1 Core network aspects

In addition, FNs will need to support a huge number and a wide variety of terminal devices to achieve an all-
encompassing communication environment. On the one hand, in the field of ubiquitous sensor networks,
there will be a huge number of networked devices, such as sensors and integrated circuit (IC) tag readers,
that will communicate using a very small bandwidth. On the other hand, there will be some high-end
applications, such as high quality videoconference applications with high realistic sensation. Although the
related terminal devices will not necessarily be very numerous, huge bandwidths will nevertheless be
required for the support of these applications.

8.2 Functional flexibility
FNs are recommended to offer functional flexibility to support and sustain new services derived from user
demands. FNs are recommended to support agile deployment of new services that keep pace with the rapid
growth and change of user demands.

Rationale: It is extremely difficult to foresee all the user demands that may arise in the long-term future.
Current networks are designed to be versatile, by supporting basic functions that are expected to accompany
most of the future user demands in a sufficiently efficient manner. However, the current network design
approach does not always provide sufficient flexibility, e.g., when the basic functions are not optimal for the
support of some new services, thus requiring changes in these same functions. Each addition or modification
of functions to an already deployed network infrastructure usually results in complex deployment tasks that
need to be carefully planned; otherwise, this may have an impact on other services that are running on the
same network infrastructure.
On the other hand, FNs are expected to enable dynamic modifications of network functions in order to
operate various network services that have specific demands. For example, video transcoding and/or
aggregation of sensor data inside the network (i.e., in-network processing) should be possible. It should also
be possible to implement new protocols for new types of services in FNs. Services should coexist on a single
network infrastructure without interfering with each other, in particular, when a network function is added
or modified to support a certain service. FNs should be able to accommodate experimental services for
testing and evaluation purposes, and they should also enable a graceful migration from experimental services
to deployed services in order to lessen obstacles to new service deployment.

8.3 Virtualization of resources
FNs are recommended to support virtualization of resources associated with networks in order to support
partitioning of resources, and a single resource can be shared concurrently among multiple virtual resources.
FNs are recommended to support isolation of any virtual resource from all others. FNs are recommended to
support abstraction in which a given virtual resource need not directly correspond to its physical
characteristics.

Rationale: For virtual networks, virtualization of resources can allow networks to operate without interfering
with the operation of other virtual networks while sharing network resources among virtual networks. Since
multiple virtual networks can simultaneously coexist, different virtual networks can use different network
technologies without interfering with each other, thereby allowing better utilization of physical resources.
The abstraction property enables to provide standard interfaces for accessing and managing the virtual
network and resources, and helps to support updating of virtual networks' capabilities.

8.4 Data access

FNs are recommended to be designed and implemented for optimal and efficient handling of huge amounts
of data. FNs are recommended to have mechanisms for promptly retrieving data regardless of their location.

Rationale: The main purpose of existing telephone networks has been to connect two or more subscribers,
enabling them to communicate. IP networks were designed for transmitting data between specified
terminals. Currently, users search data on the networks using data-oriented keywords, and access them
without knowing their actual location. From a user standpoint, networks are used mainly as a tool for
accessing the required data. Since the importance of data access will be sustained in the future, it is essential

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