Open design of 5G SA is first for converged packet core
Deutsche Telekom (DT) and network software specialist Mavenir have released details of the cloud-native 5G Core they built together in Germany. DT asked Mavenir to configure the software to run on DT’s existing Kubernetes system, taking an open design approach to a pre-existing legacy. During the installation, a Converged Packet Core (CPP) was integrated with DT’s existing multi-vendor access network and other system components.
Dr Abdurazak Mudesir, DT’s Group CTO, talked of being “on a path towards a fully automated network” that can fulfil any need and invent some services that the customers didn’t realise they need. A CPP expedites the conversion of a network to 5G by refusing to burn bridges as the structure takes shape. Instead of dictating future decisions throughputs intransigence, it sets up a flexible evolutionary path with minimal risk, unlimited scale and greater speed, security and reliability, according to Mavenir. This fully-contained, cloud-native CPP system supports every generation from 2G to 5G on one network that will run on any cloud.
DT’s new Converged Packet Core supports data, voice and messaging services. Its support for network slicing is initially focused on live video broadcasting but is expected to take on much greater significance as the network evolves. The deployment has been successfully certified against devices from all the major terminal vendors, says Mavenir.
The Mavenir system automatically conducts software and network upgrades so the CPP services and associated network functions can run in minutes by using DT’s automation framework. This means the entire lifecycle of each application is closely shadowed and platform can automatically synchronize resources and configure coding changes. This makes testing and deployment less prone to human error.
“The Mavenir system is the foundation for new applications and services that will need low latency and network slicing,” said Pardeep Kohli, Mavenir’s President and CEO.