The Evolvement of the Wireless Industry Capability for Agile Service Production

Abstract: Along with the dramatic changes that have happened over the years, from the first-generation (1G) of mobile networks to the current fifth-generation (5G) of mobile networks. A wide range of different technologies has been seen as potential possibilities for changing and improving the 5G networks, whereas Software-defined networking (SDN) has been widely regarded as one of the significant enablers for this possibility. At the same time, it has been seen that lowering cost and increasing speed and coverage is not enough for the emerging market. Instead, higher flexibility and increased revenues are desirable and have been seen coming from being able to manage and make use of programmed mobile networks. This thesis investigates the principles and concepts of merging 5G networks with the SDN technology, in which ways those networks can make use of programming to make them more suitable to manage and use. Lastly, it explores the possibility to demonstrate the identified model with the use case for creating virtual private networks. This was mainly done by evaluating and experimenting with 5G networks and the SDN technology together with available tools. Alongside doing so, it was possible to present several principles and concepts suitable for such a programmed mobile network, where some of which were through the utilization of a programming language and a compiler. In addition, it was also possible to discover a compatible SDN controller that seamlessly could be integrated with the other components providing more efficient network management and enhanced usability. To then present the identified model, an implementation could be made by combining the principles and concepts to illustrate a programmed mobile network. The implementation contained two elements, each resembling a virtual private network, with each network further consisting of several user equipments (UEs). Furthermore, it was possible to control the communication between individual UEs and their respective base stations. Several useful pieces of information have thus been gathered in the same place towards answering those research questions, whereas the identified model has also been demonstrated with the use case for creating virtual private networks.