Cloud Automation for 5G Network

Publication date: June 16, 2021 (Document Revisions)

Abstract

This whitepaper introduces cloud automation for cloud native 5G networks, and how different Amazon Web Services (AWS) tools and services can be used by digital services providers (DSPs). This allows DSPs to fully automate the deployment and testing of 5G networks; enable orchestration, closed loop use cases, predictive automation and edge analytics for 5G networks; and enable 5G use cases to unlock 5G revenue potential. The paper explains how you can use AWS tools and services to meet the requirements of these 5G network automation use cases.

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Introduction

Telecommunications software vendors traditionally delivered custom hardware and custom software to deliver real-time process delivery for traditional 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. This lead digital service providers (DSPs) to experience relatively long cycles of development, lab and field integration testing, and production deployment of new network nodes or new features to ensure the stability of mission and business critical telecom services. The inherited long cycle of deployment was due to the monolithic architecture of traditional network nodes, a typical multi-vendor environment, and many point-to-point interfaces among network entities in the 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks.

As introduced in 5G Network Evolution with AWS, 5G mobile networks, as standardized by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), now support a cloud-native architecture enabled by virtualization and containerization. 5G network technology uses a cloud- native approach with microservice stateless service-based architecture, programable with network APIs and network slicing.

About 5G network architecture

This 5G network architecture means that different network functions can work as loosely coupled independent services that are communicating with each other through well- defined interfaces and APIs. Most important, each network function can be updated independently. This architecture shift in 5G enables DSPs to achieve more agility and operational efficiency by making it easier to roll out updates for network functions more frequently while maintaining the testing and security requirements and standards through automation.

5G brings major technology enhancements through these characteristics:

• Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) — Supports a 100 Mbps average user data rate and peak data rates of 10 Gbps.

• Ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) — Provides a latency as low as 1 msec with six 9s of reliability.

• Massive machine-type communications (mMTC) — Powers up to 100,000 devices per km2.

These three technology enablers in 5G will revolutionize and power a whole range of use cases.

The complexity of the traditional method of going digital comes with a heavy lift in the form of planning, resources, capital investment and configuration before you get to the value of developing the application that really matters to the customer.

AWS enables DSPs to go cloud-native. This approach allows for abstracting away many layers of infrastructure that would otherwise be required, such as networks, servers, operating systems, and so on. A cloud native environment allows DSPs to define their requirements in code and use the AWS development environment to rapidly ideate, build, and deploy, saving a tremendous amount of overhead. Independent software vendors (ISVs) can focus on their specific requirements needed for their particular application rather than being concerned with the environment setup and maintenance. AWS provides the infrastructure to jumpstart the deployment of the network and a deep set of existing services to configure as needed. With an added extension of our partners and professional services team we can provide the automation, orchestration, and monetization of the network in record time (up to four to six times faster is common in many environments).

Reinventing cloud 5G networks

There are five distinct value drives when building a cloud-native networks with AWS:

• Velocity of build out and deployment by using AWS infrastructure and security already in place. Impacting total cost of ownership (TCO) (Capital expenditure (CAPEX))

• Operating efficiency — Adaptability and high availability to scale on demand

• Automation — Intent-based network orchestration and ubiquitous cloud programming model

• Monetize the network faster with marginal external cost (MEC) application ecosystem enabled by AWS edge service portfolio and unique business models

• Access to a deep eco-system of partners to accelerate business and operational support system transformations

There are four key areas of potential benefits for cloud native 5G network builds:

• Networks moved to the cloud to orchestrate a secure, scalable, software-driven network

• Simplified operations — Transform and automate for a future-ready business

• Reimagined customer experience to anticipate usage pattern changes with AI and discover new use cases and offerings with data to deliver excellence of services

• Unlock growth to accelerate innovation to monetize 5G, Edge, and enterprise transformation

By using the innovative culture of AWS and introducing these four areas allows DSPs to continually provide business value to their customers.