5G Virtual Networking

- Overview 

5G Virtual Networking refers to the ability of a 5G network to create multiple, independent virtual networks (called "slices") on a single physical infrastructure, allowing operators to tailor network performance and capabilities to specific applications or users, like providing ultra-low latency for autonomous vehicles while simultaneously supporting high-bandwidth streaming for consumers, all on the same network. This is achieved through software-based network virtualization technology, enabling flexible network management and optimized resource allocation for diverse use cases. 

Please refer to the following for more information:

• Wikipedia: Software-defined Networking
• Wikipedia: Network Function Virtualization

- Key Features of 5G Virtual Networking

5G virtualization is the process of replacing hardware-based network functions with software-based ones in order to better optimize the network while increasing the efficiency, flexibility, and capacity of the infrastructure.

Key features about 5G Virtual Networking:

• Network Slicing: The core feature of 5G virtual networking, where a single physical network is divided into multiple logical slices, each with unique performance characteristics based on application needs.
• Software-Defined Networks (SDN): 5G leverages SDN principles to manage and configure network functions through software, facilitating dynamic adjustments to network slices.
• Network Functions Virtualization (NFV): This technology allows network functions like firewalls and load balancers to run as software on standard servers instead of dedicated hardware, enhancing flexibility and scalability.

Benefits of 5G Virtual Networking:

• Optimized Performance: Different applications can receive tailored network performance based on their specific requirements, like low latency for real-time applications or high bandwidth for large data transfers.
• Improved Efficiency: By dynamically allocating network resources to specific slices, operators can optimize network utilization and reduce costs.
• Scalability: New network slices can be quickly provisioned as needed to support emerging applications and evolving user demands.

Example Use Cases:

• Industrial Automation: A dedicated slice with ultra-low latency for real-time control of factory robots.
• Smart Healthcare: A slice for remote surgery with high reliability and low latency.
• Autonomous Vehicles: A slice designed for fast data transmission and precise positioning for self-driving cars.

- 5G Virtual Networking Architecture

5G network architecture is based on three main components: 

• User Equipment (UE): The device that connects to the 5G network
• Radio Access Network (RAN): A part of the 5G infrastructure hardware
• Core Network (CN): Offers services to customers and is interconnected by the access network

5G network architecture also uses a service-based approach, which organizes network functions as modular services. This allows for flexible service composition, scalability, and rapid deployment of new services. 

5G network architecture also includes: 

• Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC): An important element of 5G architecture
• Network function virtualization (NFV): Allows mobile network operators to expose network resources to business applications as PaaS solution building blocks
• Network slicing: A virtual network architecture aspect that allows multiple virtual networks to be created atop a shared physical infrastructure
• NFV architecture: Consists of three main elements: NFVI (NFV Infrastructure), VNFs (Virtual Network Functions), the NFV MANO (Management and Orchestration) function.

- Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

Software-defined networking (SDN) is a network management approach that uses software-based controllers or application programming interfaces (APIs) to communicate with hardware infrastructure. SDN's goal is to make networks more flexible and agile, and to improve network performance and monitoring. 

SDN has two main characteristics: 

• Decoupling of control and data planes: The control plane decides where to send network traffic, and the data plane sends the traffic onward according to what the control plane tells it.
• Programmability on the control plane: SDN allows network administrators to shape traffic via a centralized console without having to touch the individual switches.

SDN is similar to cloud computing in that it enables dynamic, programmatically efficient network configuration. 

Some examples of how SDN is used in practice include: 

• Network virtualization
• SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network)
• Switching fabrics
• Traffic engineering
• Access networks

- Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)

Network functions virtualization (NFV) abstracts network functions, allowing them to be installed, controlled, and operated through software running on standardized computing nodes. 

NFV combines cloud and virtualization technologies to drive the rapid development of new network services with elastic scale and automation. These technologies are generally divided into NFV and software-defined networking (SDN). 

NFV is a network architecture concept that uses IT virtualization technology to virtualize entire classes of network node functions into building blocks that can be connected or linked together to create communications services. 

NFV relies on, but is different from, traditional server virtualization technologies such as those used in enterprise IT. A virtualized network function (VNF) may consist of one or more virtual machines running different software and processes. 

These virtual machines are located on standard high-capacity servers, switches and storage devices or even cloud computing infrastructure, rather than for Each virtual machine is equipped with custom hardware device networking capabilities.