The ‘footprint-optimised’ solution designed to make upgrading telcos’ packet cores to cloud native ‘easy’ for 4G and 5G
5G SA network deployments have been disappointingly slow in general, but Ericsson believes it may now have a catalyst with the launch of its Compact Packet Core, which combines the cloud-native Packet Core Controller (PCC or control plane) and Packet Core Gateway (PCG or user plane) functions – integrated with Ericsson’s cloud-native infrastructure (CNIS) – on a single compact rack.
The global solution comes with pre-defined parameter settings and streamlined migration procedures that Ericsson said simplifies transition to cloud-native and maximises efficient return on investment. Compact Packet Core fully supports 4G, 5G non-standalone, and 5G standalone (5G SA) networks.
Crucially, CPC’s pre-integrated and compact design should simplify integration for systems integrators and operators. “One of the main aims here is to drastically reduce complexity for deploying a cloud-native packet core and associated cloud infrastructure,” Ericsson head of offering, area packet core, Ulf Jönsson told Mobile Europe.
“A specific benefit comes when considering the migration from legacy infrastructure (such as NFVI) to cloud-native infrastructure. It’s an important transition to make for CSPs – not only providing the future-proofed platform upon which their network can grow and evolve, but also to ensure they have access to the latest software updates and security capabilities,” he said.
“The transition usually involves substantial interoperability and integration testing, on top of the work of matching business logic based on the previous system to the new one – ensuring that if you need something to happen in your network, that will still happen as needed even though it’s a new piece of software performing the task,” he said.
“The pre-integration completed here substantially reduces the time and work needed to make this migration so CSPs can more straightforwardly make the jump to cloud native – setting the scene for a huge range of future evolutions,” he said. “This could involve launching cloud-native 5G Core, an essential element to 5G Standalone, or other things such as adding capacity to existing LTE and 5G NSA networks, or even reducing overheads as ISSU is adopted for core network upgrades.”
“Thinking about 5G SA specifically, it can greatly reduce the time to market for launch – the pre-configuration means faster deployment times and the automatic software upgrades ensure the software is always the latest, most efficient and secure versions,” he added.
Jönsson said CPC can be a suitable solution for a wide range of network sizes. For smaller networks, it can scale down to four servers but within the CNIS Compact cabinet Ericsson can also scale up to 24 servers if required – however, he said the biggest CPC deployment might just be around 14 servers. “The main thing to assess to see if the CPC is a good fit or not for a CSP is the topology of the network and the design of the core network. The CPC is a complete Packet Core solution and can be deployed centrally, or in distributed manner – regionally or on edge,” he said.
CPC, he said, delivers the simplicity of the “appliance” approach and adds to it by inheriting the key benefits from being cloud native. It supports cloud-native features such as automation, In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU), Container-as-a-Service rolling upgrades (CaaS RU) and gives telcos the flexibility to adapt the network to new use cases or workloads as they grow and evolve their services to customers.
The core network functions in Ericsson CPC are pre-integrated and deployed on Ericsson full-stack CNIS. It’s a solution designed to take advantage of a full Ericsson stack, with no need for other cloud providers to host the functions, according to Jönsson. “Ericsson core network functions are verified on a number of other cloud-infrastructure providers should a telco choose to go with one of their offerings instead of CNIS,” he added.
Yes to microservices
Despite having a compact CNIS deployment, CPC still offers cloud-native capabilities such as microservices-based architecture and containerisation. “It was vitally important that the compact version of CNIS offers the same capabilities we have always offered with the solution. In fact, one of the key advantages we are bringing to customers of CPC is that it brings the possibility of automated software updates through ISSU, a process that is only possible with the microservices-based architecture,” he said.
“A CSP can start with this solution using just four server blades in a single cabinets. This will give it the necessary power and capacity to handle a few hundred thousand subscribers. From there, capacity can be added by installing further hardware in the same cabinet, with the solution able to scale up, powering a few million subscribers. From there, our existing product and solution set can be used for any further scale needed,” he added.
Jönsson said the solution enables service providers to take full advantage of the benefits that come naturally with a move to cloud-native operations for core network. “Particularly of interest, is the benefit of faster software upgrades through ISSU, automation and a centralised service delivery which means the CSP can always be on the very latest software versions and so best placed to launch new services to users, and stay updated with new features and security updates,” he said. “Additionally, Ericsson Orchestrator and OMC (cloud manager) as part of the solution enables the centralised LCM but also FCAPS (fault management) observability for efficient operation and maintenance of the solution.”
He added that CPC still offers advantages to telcos that have already made the step to cloud native and are relatively advanced in there ambitions to launch 5G SA. “We see the main benefit of this solution to be the ease with which network capacity can be upgraded and the reduced time to market for new services and functionality that comes with constantly having the latest software releases,” he said. “Of course, there may still be some more advanced CSPs who have some legacy EPC – deployed on virtual or physical hardware – nodes in their network that they are looking to migrate, then they can also consider the solution.”
Lifecycle costs
While Ericsson is coy on the total cost of ownership benefits for CPC – which is fair because it is new and benefits will vary according to each unique network set up. However, looking at what the solution can deliver will help operators make their own minds up. For example, savings will come from reducing the number of parameters that has to be configured by 80%, introducing a saving related to migration and deployment. The time from hardware “racked and stacked” on site until first node is ready for handover to customer is around six weeks.
There’s also savings to be gained in energy usage and footprint, and the introduction of automated upgrades. It will also enable up to 30% reduction in energy and hardware footprint due to its inbuilt capability to support the latest CPU generations as they evolve.
So while the numbers aren’t there yet, there are real benefits over legacy EPC deployment on physical or virtual infrastructure. The new CPC solution will enable centrally managed LCM (lifecycle management) using Ericsson’s latest automation tools and capabilities to enable efficient LCM. Ericsson has an opportunity to turn this into a managed service.
Although integrating PCC and PCG on scaled-down infrastructure gives operators the advantage of localising core network functions – nobody mention AI-RAN inferencing – Ericsson sees this more as a cherry on top of a full-stack pancake rather than the key application. “[Localising] gives benefits of a reduction in latency, and also reduced transport costs. Compact Packet Core supports more regionalised deployments, but can also be used in small, medium and larger network configurations with more centralised topology,” said Jönsson. “This solution is not positioned for private networks, Compact Packet Core will be used to migrate and scale the CSPs public networks.”
Ericsson currently sits behind 37 of the world’s 60+ commercially live 5G SA networks, with its RAN solutions and the cloud-native Ericsson dual-mode 5G Core solution. As of October 2024, Ericsson said it has 120+ unique 5G Core or cloud native commercial contracts, with 55+ live dual-mode 5G Core solution customers (including EPC, 5G NSA and 5G SA live customers).