5G commercialization puts forward clear steps for the transformation of next-generation networks

Have you ever encountered occasional slow Internet speeds when using high-speed broadband? A big reason for this is that the current patchwork network structure urgently needs to be transformed based on NFV/SDN technology. With the advent of 5G, the network is being forced to transform.

In fact, although the Internet speed of users is getting faster and faster with the access of fiber to homes and the wide coverage of 4G, there is still a problem of insufficient Internet speed. The reason is that the existing network is not flexible enough and the utilization rate is low. First, the service launch is slow, the service opening and launch cycle of the existing network is long, and the service capabilities are highly bound to the platform, which cannot be flexibly programmed; second, the network equipment is siloed, the CT equipment is highly specialized, and resources cannot be shared; third, the network structure has many levels, and the network is hierarchical by region. The network structure has many transfers and a lot of through-traffic; finally, the network dynamic adjustment is weak, and everything from network traffic flow to network element functions cannot be dynamically adjusted.

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As 5G is expected to be officially launched in 2020, and major operators will begin trial commercial use next year, terminal manufacturers will also launch 5G mobile phones in the second half of next year, the existing network structure will not be able to meet the requirements of 5G's high speed, low latency, and wide coverage. These core features of 5G will rely on network transformation, and the launch time of 5G will force the existing network to complete the transformation.

Duan Xiaodong of China Mobile recently stated at the "2018 China SDN/NFV Conference" that 5G is closely related to the next-generation network, and 5G networks need to be deployed based on the next-generation network infrastructure.

To meet 5G requirements and build an advanced network, 5G networks will start from four system design concepts and promote architectural changes through eight major technical directions. ITization will be achieved through functional software and computing and data separation technology; Internetization will be achieved through SBA and HTTP/2 Internetization protocol; extreme simplification will be achieved through C/U separation and diversified connections; and serviceization will be achieved through network slicing and edge computing.