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ETSI group
on Next Generation Protocol (ISG NGP) has just released a new specification
and reports to optimize the performance, efficiency, and scalability of new
services proposed for 5G such as network slicing or ultra-reliable low
latency communication (URLLC).
The
ETSI report GR NGP 010 entitled "Recommendation
for New Transport Technologies" provides an analysis of
current transport technologies such as TCP and their limitations. Based on
this analysis, it delivers some high-level guidance as to the architectural
features required in a transport technology that would support the new
applications proposed for 5G, and a framework in which there is a clear
separation between control and data planes. Experimental results from a
proof-of-concept implementation are also reported.
The
ETSI report GR NGP 011 addresses "End-to-end
Network Slicing Reference Framework and Information Model".
It describes network slicing and the design principles behind it, as well as
the resources used by services in network slices to provide sharing of
physical networks across multiple administrative and technology domains with
the capacity available to each user being assured. The high level functions
and mechanisms that implement slicing are described, and security
considerations are addressed.
Current IP protocols for core and access networks
need to evolve and offer a much better service to mobile traffic than the
current TCP/IP-based technology,” states John Grant, chairman of the ETSI
Next Generation Protocol ISG. “Our
specifications offer solutions that are compatible with both IPv4 and IPv6,
providing an upgrade path to the more efficient and responsive system that is
needed to support 5G.”
The
new ETSI specification GS NGP 013 describes "Flexilink:
an efficient deterministic packet forwarding in user plane as well as packet
formats and forwarding mechanisms". It specifies user plane
packet formats and routing mechanisms that allow core and access networks to
support the new services proposed for 5G. With IP, every packet carries all
the information needed to route it to its destination, but newer technologies
such as Software Defined Networking (SDN) route flows rather than individual
packets. Flexilink takes this to its logical conclusion, with packet headers
only carrying a "label" which is an index into the routing table;
this offers the ultimate in header compression as well as improved security.
Flexilink also provides a separate ultra-low latency service for continuous
media such as audio, video, tactile internet, or vehicle position.
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