#evolved packet core

There's a good chance you've not heard of ConteXtream, and have spent little if any time thinking about software-defined networking (SDN). And, unless you're building an LTE network, you probably haven't thought much about the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), which essentially moves the heart of LTE networks into the IP world. But, trust me, what's happening here is huge - smack-yourself-in-the-forehead huge, in fact, applying key trends in networking overall to one of the most important, and most visible, areas of network investment today.

The company today announced an SDN approach to the EPC, in effect virtualizing the core of LTE networks. SDN, as you've probably surmised by now, is similar in concept to software-defined radio (SDR), the virtual WLAN controllers now available from a number of vendors, and virtualization in general - using commodity processors to replace specialized equipment. The cost reductions and flexibility inherent in this approach are, I believe, going to have a number of remarkable benefits going forward.

First of all, with costs going down, shortages of capacity will become rare. We won't have to wait for new developments from just a few vendors of such obscure but vital elements as SGWs and ePDGs. Reliability is improved via enhanced flexibility in load-balancing and meeting redundancy/failover requirements. Faster time to market - yes, that too, along with faster upgrades (even on demand; you'll likely be hearing much more about Layer-4 switches, for example). And perhaps even end-user organizations will be able to integrate with carrier networks, managing costs and provisioning services with remarkable ease. OK, I am likely a little bit ahead of reality with all of this. But I do see SDN as applied to carrier networks as radically changing the implementations of these vital capabilities, and much more, with perhaps even an IaaS approach dominating over time.

My big concern about LTE networks is that scarcity and expense are dominating carrier thought today - how else to explain the ridiculous pricing-by-the-bit plans now in place? I fully hope - and expect - that the carriers will meet their financial goals, with the magic of a competitive marketplace improving services and holding down costs for us mere-mortal end users. But, really, we need to move from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance and possiblity - so much depends upon that, and I'm talking Layer-7 here. And I believe that SDN will make an important contribution to achieving that end, and may even be eventually recognized as the key development that made the ultimate success of LTE deployments around the globe possible.