Multi-domain orchestration of virtualized mobile core networks

With the advent of 5G, telecommunications are undergoing unprecedented changes. Network architectures are evolving to support new business models and services. The transition to 5G encompasses many technological aspects and design processes. The new generation system focuses on bringing an overall performance improvement in terms of latency and throughput, as well as on exibility and scalability of the infrastructure. Network Slicing plays a key role in the aforementioned transition, allowing to build different logical networks on top of the same common infrastructure. Moreover, the evolution of the core network is a key aspect as well for the integration of new functionalities and to enable full 5G capabilities. In this regard, the core network needs to move from the current complex, cost-inefficient infrastructure to a more dynamic architecture. This can be achieved by leveraging virtualization technologies supporting paradigms including Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Cloud Computing, which are considered key enablers for 5G. This thesis focuses on the orchestration of a virtualized mobile core network, starting from the modelling of MANO descriptors and moving to the deployment in a multi-domain cloud scenario. In particular, the objective of the activity is to highlight methodologies and problems relevant to that deployment, including the configuration of all the involved elements and available software solutions. For the implementation, Open Source MANO (OSM) is used as management and orchestration platform, and OpenStack as cloud platform and Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM). Moreover, the NextEPC software suite is utilized to implement the core network elements whereas eNodeB and UEs are simulated with the L2 nFAPI software provided by OpenAirInterface.