Leveraging Network

Virtualization for

Future ICT Converged Network

Alex Jinsung Choi,

EVP, Head of ICT R&D Division, SK Telecom

SK Telecom Drives LTE/LTE-A in Korean Market

Q. LTE subscribers and penetration rate in SK Telecom?

A. 39% CAGR increase in LTE subscribers and 48% market share

19 Mil

39% CAGR

17 Mil

(2012-2015)

14 Mil

Launched
in July 2011

10 Mil
7 Mil

0.6 Mil

3%
2011

26%
2012

37%
2013.4

53%

2013

LTE %
73%

65%

2014

2015

Challenges
SKT is transforming the network against mobile data traffic explosion
>> Traditional approach: Physical-layer innovation
Mobile Data Traffic Growth

Network Evolution for Higher Capacity

Dramatic increase of mobile traffic

Exploiting heterogeneous network portfolio to

support explosively growing data

- Data traffic surges due to the increasing number of

smartphone users and the spread of LTE

Topology reshaping with small cells is on-going

- Need lots of investment and time

- Network complexity grows exponentially

65.5PB
Petabyte/Month
Petabyte/Month

2012.7

53.3 PB

Cumulative Capacity Growth

40.3PB
3G unlimited
data plan
(10.8.16)

LTE
WCDMA
Wi-Fi, Femtocells

LTE
(11.7.1)

2011.7

19.2PB
2010.7

5.7PB 7.1PB
3.5PB
0.4PB 2.2PB
`10.8 `10.12 `11.3 `11.6 `11.9 `12.9

MC

W-SCAN

6 Sector
3FA

HSPA+

`13

`14

`15
Year

Time

Computing Evolution for ICT Convergence N/W

Computing Evolution

- It allows IT infra techniques to be extensively used even for network technologies

Telecommunication infrastructure become more like IT infrastructure

IT Cloud

Network ?

(Data Center)

Software defines functions in

telecommunication networks

Infrastructural Innovation is Inspired

Both SDN and NFV help to build the network that has the potential
to increase operator agility, reduce the costs, and disrupt the vendor landscape
Software-Defined Networking

Network Functions Virtualization

Open, flexible, and innovative networking

Cost-effective and efficient infrastructure

Innovative
Network Apps
from 3rd Parties

Encourages innovation
and competiveness
among 3rd Parties

Control Plane

Open Standards
CapEx/OpEx saving

Virtualized Network Functions

PE Router
CDN
Firewall WAN Accelerator

DPI

P-GW/S-GW
CG-NAT

Orchestrated,
Automatic & Remote Install

Standard/High-Volume Servers
Standard/High-Volume Storage

Data Plane
Standard/High-Volume Switches

Harnessing the Transformative Nature of SDN/NFV

Migration to the efficient and extremely efficient alternative to the legacy
Legacy Network

Software and Cloud-based Network

Virtualized,
Service-Oriented and
Flexible Network

Vendor-specific H/W,
Lack of Scalability and Flexibility,
Limited Intelligence

Analytics
Platform
PCRF

S/W

DU Pool (A-SCAN)
RU#1

#1

EPC

DPI

#2
RU#2

#N

Video
Opt.

RU#1

CDN
Internet

RU#2

DU #1
DU #2
DU #N

Orchestrator
SDN/Cloud Controller

Analytics-based Control

S/W

EPC
DPI
IMS
CDN
Video Opt. Web Accel.
TCP Opt.
GPP, Standard H/W

RU#N

Access Network Core Network

RU#N

Carrier Cloud Managed by SDN

Internet

A Small Start: SDN-Enabled Dynamic VAS Platform

SDN/NFV provide a highly scalable and flexible middle-box networking
for the network optimization and service innovation
As-Is

To-Be
SDN Network

SGi/Gi Service Network

Device

EPC

SDN
Controller
On Context A

Internet

Dedicated appliances performing

specific network functions
 Lack of Scalability: most traffic passes
through every in-line service node
Huge capital investment is indispensable
against unpredictable data explosion
 Lack of flexibility: manual & static policy
control & enforcement
Lack of flexibility and agility
Operational complexity grows fast

On Context B
Device

EPC

Internet

Virtualized network functions

running on standard H/W

On Context C

 SDN minimizes the time-to-market of new

innovative services
Network congestion-aware traffic optimization
Application-aware dynamic traffic
management
Personalized and dynamic value-add services
(VAS) will be realized

MNO's Requirements: 3GPP Compliancy

For the seamless integration with mobile networks, 3GPP-compliancy,
subscriber-awareness, service-awareness and controllability should be devised
?
S1-MME

HSS

DPI?

MME

PCRF

S6a

S11

UE

eNode-B

RAN

S1-U

SDN
Gx
Controller
S/P-GW
Control Plane
SDN Protocol

S-GW
Data Plane

P-GW
Data Plane

SGi

Internet

Core Network

For those features, standards got left behind, and vendor-specific/

vendor-isolated solutions are raging

MNO's Requirements: Performance & Reliability

Operators expect 100% reliability and availability, and deterministic performance:
Those requirements should be collected, and reflected in the technology
Virtualization Requirements

Pipe functions
eNodeB, P-GW or DPI requires
high-performance data plane
(packet processing), 100% reliability &
availability, and extremely low latency
performance.

Transaction
10000CPS

Control
Availability
100% 99.99%
Pipe

5000CP
S

Service

1ms

1Gbps

100Gbps
Throughput

50ms

Latency

Control functions
SON, MME, PCRF or CSCF, that controls
pipe workloads, requires highperformance signal processing as well as
near 100% reliability & availability
Services functions
SMS/MMS, IMS AS or CDN that
provides telecoms value-add services
(Similar to trivial IT workloads)

Concluding Remarks
 Networking paradigm shift is just around the corner

SKT is transforming the network to support the mobile data traffic explosion
SDN/NFV will help operators to build more efficient and economic network

 Mind the Gap: for the success of SDN and NFV in the wild,
Viable use cases should be collected

The technology should address the MNO-specific requirements

Lessons learned from Proof-of-Concept and Pilots will be shared

 Remaining question: Has the eco-system got ready?

Carrier-grade and innovative applications by 3rd parties must be encouraged and

supplied for the open innovation