After introducing fronthaul requirements in Centralized Radio Access Network architecture, different fronthaul solutions are presented. Perspectives for medium term evolution including fronthaul supervision are hinted as well as challenges for future mobile evolution towards 5G.
Dynamic and flexible optical networking combined with virtualization and softwarisation enabled by Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN) are the key technology enablers for supporting the dynamicity, bandwidth and latency requirements of emerging 5G network services. To achieve the end-to-end connectivity objective of 5G, Network Services (NSes) must be often deployed transparently over multiple administrative and technological domains. Such scenario often presents security risks since a typical NS 1 may comprise a chain of network functions, each executed in different remote locations, and tampering within the network infrastructure may compromise their communication.To avoid such threats, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has been identified and proposed as a future-proof method immune to any algorithmic cryptanalysis based on fundamental quantumphysics mechanisms to distribute symmetric keys. The maturity of QKD has enabled the research and development of quantum networks with gradual coexistence with classical optical networks using carrier-grade telecom equipment. This makes the QKD technology a suitable candidate for security of distributed and virtualised network services.In this paper, for the first time, we propose a dynamic quantum-secured optical network for supporting network services that are dynamically created by chaining Virtual Network Functions (VNFs 2 ) over multiple network domains. This work includes a new flex-grid quantum-switched Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (q-ROADM), extensions to SDN-enabled optical control plane, and extensions to NFV orchestration to achieve quantum-aware, on-demand chaining of VNFs. The experimental results verify the capability of routing quantum and classical data channels both individually and dynamically over shared fibre links. Moreover, quantum secured chaining of VNFs in 5G networks is experimentally demonstrated via interconnecting four autonomous 5G islands simultaneously through the q-ROADM with eight optical channels using the 5GUK Exchange orchestration platform. The experimental scenarios and results confirm the benefit of the proposed data plane architecture and control/management plane framework.Index Terms-5G, management and network orchestration, network function virtualization, quantum key distribution, secure network service, q-ROADM.
The increased carrier bandwidth and the number of antenna elements expected in 5G networks require a redesign of the traditional IP-based backhaul and CPRI-based fronthaul interfaces used in 4G networks. We envision future mobile networks to encompass these legacy interfaces together with novel 5G RAN functional splits. In this scenario, a consistent transport network architecture able to jointly support backhaul and 4G/5G fronthaul interfaces is of paramount importance. In this paper we present 5G-XHaul, a novel transport network architecture featuring wireless and optical technologies and a multi-technology software defined control plane, which is able to jointly support backhaul and fronthaul services. We have deployed and validated the 5G-XHaul architecture in a city-wide testbed in Bristol.
First demonstration of quantum-secured end-to-end VNS composition through dynamic chaining of VNFs from multiple-domains. We rely on a novel quantum-switched flexi-grid WDM network and q-ROADM for interconnectivity and on-demand selection of transport functions for quality-of-service.
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