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Applying SDN to Mobile Networks: A New Perspective for 6G Architecture

Rashmi Yadav, Rashmi Kamran, Pranav Jha, Abhay Karandikar

TL;DR

This work identifies critical control-plane bottlenecks in 5GS and proposes a Software Defined Networking–driven 6G architecture that treats UE signaling as a service in a separate data/service plane. By moving signaling servers (RRC NAS DHCP) into the service plane and retaining a lean CP for user-plane control, the architecture achieves simpler, more modular flows and improved scalability. The authors model the system with PEPA and compare against 5GS using signaling scenarios for PDU session establishment and mobility, reporting higher saturation points and reduced control-plane messaging in 6GS. The approach offers improved resilience to massive signaling loads anticipated in 6G and enables use-case–specific signaling deployments, with future work addressing security implications of the new separation.

Abstract

The upcoming Sixth Generation (6G) mobile communications system envisions supporting a variety of use cases with differing characteristics, e.g., very low to extremely high data rates, diverse latency needs, ultra massive connectivity, sustainable communications, ultra-wide coverage etc. To accommodate these diverse use cases, the 6G system architecture needs to be scalable, modular, and flexible; both in its user plane and the control plane. In this paper, we identify some limitations of the existing Fifth Generation System (5GS) architecture, especially that of its control plane. Further, we propose a novel architecture for the 6G System (6GS) employing Software Defined Networking (SDN) technology to address these limitations of the control plane. The control plane in existing 5GS supports two different categories of functionalities handling end user signalling (e.g., user registration, authentication) and control of user plane functions. We propose to move the end-user signalling functionality out of the mobile network control plane and treat it as user service, i.e., as payload or data. This proposal results in an evolved service-driven architecture for mobile networks bringing increased simplicity, modularity, scalability, flexibility and security to its control plane. The proposed architecture can also support service specific signalling support, if needed, making it better suited for diverse 6GS use cases. To demonstrate the advantages of the proposed architecture, we also compare its performance with the 5GS using a process algebra-based simulation tool.

Applying SDN to Mobile Networks: A New Perspective for 6G Architecture

TL;DR

This work identifies critical control-plane bottlenecks in 5GS and proposes a Software Defined Networking–driven 6G architecture that treats UE signaling as a service in a separate data/service plane. By moving signaling servers (RRC NAS DHCP) into the service plane and retaining a lean CP for user-plane control, the architecture achieves simpler, more modular flows and improved scalability. The authors model the system with PEPA and compare against 5GS using signaling scenarios for PDU session establishment and mobility, reporting higher saturation points and reduced control-plane messaging in 6GS. The approach offers improved resilience to massive signaling loads anticipated in 6G and enables use-case–specific signaling deployments, with future work addressing security implications of the new separation.

Abstract

The upcoming Sixth Generation (6G) mobile communications system envisions supporting a variety of use cases with differing characteristics, e.g., very low to extremely high data rates, diverse latency needs, ultra massive connectivity, sustainable communications, ultra-wide coverage etc. To accommodate these diverse use cases, the 6G system architecture needs to be scalable, modular, and flexible; both in its user plane and the control plane. In this paper, we identify some limitations of the existing Fifth Generation System (5GS) architecture, especially that of its control plane. Further, we propose a novel architecture for the 6G System (6GS) employing Software Defined Networking (SDN) technology to address these limitations of the control plane. The control plane in existing 5GS supports two different categories of functionalities handling end user signalling (e.g., user registration, authentication) and control of user plane functions. We propose to move the end-user signalling functionality out of the mobile network control plane and treat it as user service, i.e., as payload or data. This proposal results in an evolved service-driven architecture for mobile networks bringing increased simplicity, modularity, scalability, flexibility and security to its control plane. The proposed architecture can also support service specific signalling support, if needed, making it better suited for diverse 6GS use cases. To demonstrate the advantages of the proposed architecture, we also compare its performance with the 5GS using a process algebra-based simulation tool.
Paper Structure (20 sections, 3 equations, 14 figures, 2 tables)

This paper contains 20 sections, 3 equations, 14 figures, 2 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Limitations of 3GPP 5GS Architecture
  3. Tight coupling of user plane control and UE signalling handling in network control plane
  4. Non-uniform handling of services
  5. Inconsistency in implementation of CUPS
  6. Complex protocols between control plane and user plane
  7. Security threat to control plane
  8. Proposed architecture for 6G System (6GS)
  9. Introduction to the 5GS control plane
  10. Proposed Architecture for 6GS
  11. Advantages of the proposed architecture
  12. Signalling and Control Information Flow Comparison
  13. PDU session establishment
  14. User mobility
  15. System Model
  16. ...and 5 more sections

Figures (14)

  • Figure 1: 3GPP 5GS Architecture M13.
  • Figure 2: Proposed SDN-based architecture for 6G system.
  • Figure 3: Network entities, UE signalling and control message flow for PDU session establishment in the proposed architecture.
  • Figure 4: PDU session establishment procedure in the proposed architecture.
  • Figure 5: Network entities, UE signalling and control message flow in case of user mobility for the proposed architecture.
  • ...and 9 more figures