A Beginners Guide for 5G Core Network Architecture

We are witnessing floods of information on potential 5G services, use-cases, implementations, and their impact across different verticals. 5G is providing connectivity and services to Consumers, Enterprises, and Things (Devices, Machines, Sensors, etc.).

Certainly, 5G looks very promising in terms of parameters
like high bandwidth, high capacity, high speed, low/ultra-low latency,
high-density coverage, high availability, low device energy consumption, high
throughput, different treatments to different network slices, etc.

5G Core (5GC) network architecture implementation doesn’t
exactly follow the network evolution upgrade path as previously followed by 2G,
3G and 4G networks and this is what makes 5G Architecture very different from
its predecessors. In 5G, Network Management is envisioned to be Software-driven
and Network functions & resources are virtualized at the Edges and Core.

(Click to enlarge) Evolution of Mobile Network

How 5G is different from its predecessors?

Unlike previous cellular generations, 5G implementation is
based on:-

• Cloud-native applications.

• REST services-based integration.

• Virtualized Network Functions.

• Softwarization of Network & IT.

• Support for Stateless Network functions by decoupling Compute
  and Storage.

• Microservices based design patterns.

• DevOps, CI/CD methodologies for faster time-to-market
  offerings.

• Network slice-based approach of utilizing the physical network
  resources.

• Mobile access edge computing for delivering & processing
  low latency contents & data.

• Providing cellular connections to things & devices and
  supporting very high density.

• Handling advanced analytics.

• Separation of Control & User planes.

• Network capability exposure via APIs and Service Bus.

• Support for Centralized and Distributed processing.

• etc.

All these characteristics make 5G quite different and
effective than older generations. Though it’s worth to note that some 4G
Operators were early adopters of virtualization of network elements and
separating their EPC User & Control planes for better service delivery
& optimizing control signaling.