Verizon announced the introduction of cloud native, container based technology on the core of Verizon’s active network – in association with Ericsson.
Telecom engineers at Verizon Wireless conducted the proof-of-concept trial in a live network environment in Hillsboro, Oregon. This is the first container- based wireless EPC (Evolved Packet Core) technology deployment in a live network in the world. This means that Verizon rival AT&T is yet to conduct such trials.
The trial introduces a much more efficient way to deliver operational applications that run the network. The solution will increase agility and enable deployment at scale for new services in 4G and 5G.
The deployment on Verizon’s network used Ericsson Packet Core Controller deployed as a cloud-native and microservice-based Mobility Management Entity (MME) in an existing pool. The software used leverages docker images and helm charts, with expected updates on the software from Ericsson every two weeks.
“By evolving our core network past simply using virtualized machines and instead changing our underlying software architecture to run on cloud- native technology, we are able to achieve new levels of operational automation,” said Bill Stone, vice president of Technology Development and Planning for Verizon.
Solutions such as AR/VR, which will require massive computing capabilities on the edge of the network, will require different combinations of network capabilities. Network engineers can make dynamic allocation of resources and automated network configuration changes using Cloud-native virtualization, in combination with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML).
Nils Viklund, head of Solution Area Packet Core at Ericsson, said: “Ericsson is leading the industry when it comes to driving cloud-native design in order to bring the agility needed to manage workloads dynamically at the edge required for many new 5G use cases.”
