Reshaping the Future of Network Architecture

Huawei SoftCOM

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Executive Summary

Technology advancements have created infinite connected possibilities but have also brought critical challenges. Current network infrastructure designs have not kept pace with ever-growing industry requirements; telecom operators are struggling to keep up with the rapid network upgrades necessary to support their customers’ increasing demand for bandwidth and personalized services and they have been unable to reap appropriate returns on investments made in supporting this demand.

Huawei believes that the future of network evolution lies in the ability to provide operators with a simple approach to overcoming challenges brought about by the accelerated changes in the industry landscape. It proposes SoftCOM: Huawei’s vision of a cloud-based, systemic future network architecture that leverages the power of SDN and enhances telecom operators’ competitiveness by holistically reshaping the way they manage their network and operations.

The Huawei SoftCOM vision and strategy is underpinned by four key elements:

Equipment-Level Cloud-Lization – the decoupling of hardware and • software;

Network-Level Cloud-Lization – the decoupling of forwarding and • controlling;

IT System Cloud-Lization – transforming traditional IT infrastructure to a • cloud-based infrastructure; and

Internetized Operation – transforming telecom-oriented systems to • Internet-oriented systems

Based on the SoftCOM evolution, Huawei is poised to help operators achieve business success and reshape the ICT industry. Its ‘Dig In, Widen Out’ strategy will enable operators to reduce costs and create innovative business models with open networks.

The long-term network evolution of the future will significantly impact broadband network, operations and services. SoftCOM will enable operators to meet the challenges of an increasingly technical business environment by improving efficiency, reducing OPEX optimizing CAPEX and enhancing services possibilities through network open APIs.

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I. A Lesson from the Universe on the Importance of Simplicity

Over the centuries, human society has grown rich and colorful. With the proliferation of technology advancements and the growing emphasis on personalization, the world has also become increasingly complex. The four-dimensional communication among individuals, enterprises, machines, and clouds presents limitless connected possibilities but brings with it its challenges. Huawei believes that the approach to addressing these challenges must be driven by a desire for simplicity.

The development of the universe is one of the simplest laws of physics: continuous expansion, composition, inheritance, and changes have generated diverse and bustling constellations, life forms, societies, and technologies. Approximately 13.2 billion years ago, the Big Bang occurred; and now, there are an estimated 70 trillion billion stars in the universe. Six hundred million years ago, the Biological Big Bang occurred; and now, there are approximately 20 million species living on planet Earth. Ten thousand years ago, agricultural civilizations started to appear; and today, our society has evolved into seven billion people from countless different rich and diverse cultures. Thirty years ago, the information explosion began; and today, data increases by 4Zbits every year.

The human race is naturally inquisitive and seeks to understand the complexities of the universe in simple forms, for example, the mass-energy equivalence equation E=mc2, and Darwin’s evolutionary theory – survival of the fittest. This process of breaking things down into their simplest forms creates opportunities for better understanding, allowing human knowledge to advance in an upward spiral.

Each simplification process ushers in a more prosperous era. In the farming industry, the construction of irrigation systems ushered in the dawn of agricultural civilization as these systems allowed farmers to properly allocate water resources to the right fields, at the right time, enabling them to respond to complex changes in geographical conditions and climate. The introduction of negative feedback control systems enabled the simple and effective control of energy, leading to the invention of steam engines. Since then, humans have been able to harness and control energy sources, ushering in the age of industrial civilization. The invention of the binary system enlightened by the Bagua Diagram and the Taiji Diagram laid a foundation for the emergence of computers and led to the genesis of the digital world.

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II. The Challenges of an Increasingly Complex ICT Industry

Challenges give rise to opportunities. Huawei believes that telecom

operators’ competitiveness can be enhanced by holistically reshaping

the way they manage their network and operations.

Facing increasingly diversified customer requirements, accelerated

changes in the telecom market and added complexities in industry

competition, telecom operators need to simplify basic network

architectures and discover the functions that are truly essential. Only

by doing so and by addressing challenges brought by equipment,

business and commercial models can they support and drive business

development and enhance competitiveness.

Devices are now closely linked to applications, increasing the

complexity of industry game rules, which has caused the network

pipe to become marginalized by devices and clouds. Operators need

to find a way to enhance the potential of pipe monetization. The

way to do so is to deconstruct pipe capabilities, identify strengths

and control points, construct finer-grained business models and find

ways to retain and win over subscribers rather than alienate them.

The needs of end users have also become more diverse; in an era

of infinite connected possibilities, broadband access creates an

environment for creativity. To meet the user demand for larger

bandwidth, as well their individual preferences for experience,

content and fees, operators need to further develop pipe capabilities

to offer maximum flexibility and avoid the huge cost increases that

come with meeting these unique user demands.

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Network architecture has become more complex with networks needing to

provide more and more functionalities. Various types of network elements

need to be connected to networks and a new collaborative relationship

needs to be established among the network elements, which necessitates

an evolution of network architecture. This in turn increases the level of

investment for operators. Therefore, operators need to conceptually

break down the functions of networks and devices and optimize resource

allocation to apply fixed rules for managing change.

Technological upgrades have become more sophisticated. To adapt to

development needs, vendors need to apply the latest technologies in

network devices to achieve a competitive price/performance ratio, keep

up with the pace of Moore's Law, and continuously upgrade individual

hardware elements. However, it is costly to frequently upgrade large

numbers of existing network elements. Therefore, operators need to make

the relationship between technologies and devices more abstract and set

up flexible mappings.

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III. Huawei SoftCOM: a Holistic Approach to the Future of Network Architecture

Huawei believes that the future of network evolution lies in the ability to provide operators with a simple approach to overcoming new challenges. Telecom operators’ competitiveness can be enhanced by holistically reshaping the way they manage their network and operations and streamlining basic network architectures to discover the functions that are truly essential. Network architecture has become increasingly complex with networks needing to provide more and more functionality, necessitating an evolutionary overhaul of network architecture as we know it. This evolution is a move towards breaking down complex issues via abstraction, optimizing resource allocation, making their management and operation easier, reducing time-to-market for new services and eliminating the gap between business demands and network possibilities.

In order to deliver on its belief in simplicity, Huawei has developed the SoftCOM strategy, which at its core, lies Huawei’s view that the future of network evolution is in the ability to provide operators with a simple approach to overcoming the challenges brought about by the accelerated changes in the industry landscape.

Huawei SoftCOM is a cloud-based systematic future network architecture that leverages the power of SDN and enhances telecom operators’ competitiveness by transforming network, operations and business. The SoftCOM evolution is underpinned by four key elements:

Equipment-Level Cloud-Lization – the decoupling of hardware and • software;

Network-Level Cloud-Lization – the decoupling of forwarding and • controlling;

IT System Cloud-Lization – transforming traditional IT infrastructure to a • cloud-based infrastructure; and

Internetized Operation – transforming telecom-oriented systems to • Internet-oriented systems

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By decoupling software from hardware and abstracting functions, all network device functions will no longer be dictated by individual hardware. Instead, network elements share a unified hardware platform, with resources shared flexibly and functions defined by software. A hardware pool will be established, which automatically supports scalability, realizing flexible and efficient deployment.

1. Equipment-Level Cloud-Lization

2. Network-Level Cloud-Lization

By decoupling control plane from forward plane and abstracting network resources to separate management from usage, network elements will be centrally managed at the upper layer, ensuring optimized network resource allocation, higher efficiency and simpler software upgrade. This creates a smarter architecture that will make the network more agile for transformations. A network resource pool will be built up with centralized routing for better experience and higher utilization.

Equipment-Level Cloud-Lization

Decouple of hardware and • software

Network function virtualization•

Redefine equipment architecture•

Network-Level Cloud-Lization

Decouple of forward and control•

Software defined network•

Redefine network architecture•

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3. IT System Cloud-Lization

Traditional IT system infrastructure needs to be moved to a cloud platform so as to achieve huge capacity at a low cost via elastic computing, distributed storage, parallel applications as well as automatic scalability. Through these, the computing pool and storage pool are constructed to optimize the utilization of IT resources.

4. Internetized Operation

To provide truly user-centric services, operators need to transform the way they traditionally manage their operations to become more Internet-oriented. This transformation will be realized not only through network open APIs and the development of richer applications possibly combining CT and IT capabilities, but also through transforming traditional IT infrastructure to a cloud-based IT system built up on a distributed web framework that is capable of providing business intelligence from big data analysis. This will provide end-users with online, self-service propositions on demand.

IT System Cloud-Lization

Explore online ICT services based • on cloud

Redefine role and architecture of • telecom IT system

Internetized Operation

All online and on-demand services•

Massive customers and massive • offering / transaction

Redefine operation model•

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IV. “Dig In, Widen Out” to Reshape the ICT Industry

Reflecting on the development of the ICT industry over the past five years,

Huawei believes that two disruptive innovations have had significant impacts

on the "cloud, pipe, and device" industry. The first of these innovations is

cloud computing, which enabled computing and storage capabilities to

transcend Moore's Law and effectively addressed the challenges of managing

huge volume of data. The second of these innovations is Apple’s iPhone

which catalyzed the explosive growth of mobile internet.

Given the significant impact on the industry brought by these two

innovations, it is noteworthy that operators all over the world have not been

able to capitalize on the resulting increase in online traffic. Operators are not

seeing proportionate returns on investments in supporting this increase in

traffic.

Huawei understands operators’ business needs and can provide them with

the most comprehensive and systematic portfolio of ICT solutions that will

enable them to optimize returns on their investments. Based on the SoftCOM

evolution, Huawei is poised to help operators achieve business success and

reshape the ICT industry. Its ‘Dig In, Widen Out’ strategy will enable operators

to reduce costs and create innovative business models with open networks.

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“Dig In” brings about network optimization, transforming the existing high

CapEx and high OpEx model to a substantially lower TCO model through

network abstraction, programmability, control simplicity and management

automation, enabled by SDN, NFV and cloud computing technologies.

Huawei SoftCOM will facilitate structural TCO reduction. Through equipment-

level cloud-lization, network resources can be flexibly shared and utilization

maximized. Networks will become much more scalable, network functions

can be defined on-demand and time-to-market of services can be shortened.

Through network-level cloud-lization, network capabilities are consolidated

in an abstract manner, which will enhance network intelligence.

“Widen Out” brings about network monetization, fundamentally

transforming today’s fully controlled, closed and rigid business model to

one that is open, new services-enabling and agile. This new model will

enable operators to establish key differentiators and new value propositions

in the new digital eco-system by leveraging the operator’s key strengths

and capabilities, achieved by building a converged cloud platform across

distributed data centers and wide area network infrastructure.

By transforming operations to become Internetized, an innovation platform

connecting various industries is created, which allows networks to become

ubiquitous and provides an avenue through which social and business

interactions take place. This will accelerate the development of the ICT

industry and network monetization will be maximized through much

enhanced network services and extended value propositions in the digital

eco-system.

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V. Huawei SoftCOM: Driving Network Evolution and Business Transformation

Huawei SoftCOM will see end-to-end network structure evolve towards being a data center and cloud-in-box centric network, as outlined in the following figure:

In the network architecture of the future, the network control plane and all applications will run in the data center and the function of network elements will be defined by software. Other features of the network architecture of the future include:

Radio access network: The remote small cell control plane will be moved • to the macro base station. BBU and RRU of the base station will be separated. BBU will be centralized and virtualized as BBU cloud.

Fixed access network: The control plane of ONT and MXU will be moved • to OLT, and OLT will be centralized and virtualized as OLT/DSL Cloud.

Metro and backbone network: with the decoupling of the network • control plane and forwarding plane, the IP network will be centrally controlled with an “IP Controller”, and the optical network will be centrally controlled with an “Optic Controller”, collectively forming the network control cloud.

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The large number of network elements such as RNC, GGSN, SBC, FW, • will evolve as a certain network service, whose functions will be defined by software, forming the network service cloud.

Operator services such as IMS, IPTV, CDN and third-party applications, as • well as the Business Support System (BSS) and Operation Support System (OSS) will be moved to the cloud, forming the IT and application cloud.

SoftCOM: Enhancing Services while Reducing Costs

The long-term network evolution of the future will significantly impact

network operations and services. This network of the future will enable

operators to meet the challenges of an increasingly technical business

environment to bring about the following benefits.

From the network perspective, TCO will be reduced through:

1) CAPEX optimization

Structurally optimizing network costs: through both equipment level and •

network-level cloud-lizations, hardware will be pooled and virtualized,

which improves efficiency and reduces costs beyond Moore´s law.

Longer network lifecycles: decoupling of hardware and software •

will allow faster and more effective software upgrades, protecting

investments, reducing time-to-market of new features and technologies

and making the whole network more agile and business oriented. For

example, the evolution of UMTS to LTE could be done simply by software

upgrades, updating logical functions running in data centers.

Maximization of IP and transport network efficiencies: through network-•

level cloud-lization and adoption of logically centralized IP and Transport

controllers, network resources can be better assigned and managed,

improving usage and efficiency of both IP and transport networks.

(RFC3439, the utilization ratio of internet backbone network is just

around 15%-20%).

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2) OPEX reduction

Network deployment and upgrade will become extremely simplified: • network function virtualization (NVF) will become the new network deployment strategy. Taking the network elements in Edge network as an example: the deployment and upgrade of elements such as BRAS, XGSN, SR, and firewall can be done through software deployment or upgrading elastically-allocated virtual hardware, both of which can be done through a simple user interface.

Network-level cloud-lization: network maintenance will be extremely • simplified. For example, in an IP RAN network, with centralized control, the network configuration and new features upgrade can be operated remotely, and the equipment can be plug & play.

Carbon footprint will be minimized: In the network of the future, • the control plane and application will run in cloud-controlled data centers, enabling the best use of cloud technology to minimize power consumption. In network forwarding plane, the better allocation of resources allowed by centralized controller will improve efficiency and reduce power consumption, resulting in a greener network environment.

From a services perspective, through IT system cloud-lization, to reshape the architecture and role of operators’ IT systems, network can be CaaS and IaaS. This will bring operators new direct revenue opportunities, as well as cooperative new revenue streams. Through Internetized operations, all services can become Internet-oriented and available on demand, improving the efficiency of network monetization:

Based on cloud IT, new services towards M2M and vertical markets can • be explored.

Internetized operation allows network BSS/OSS to support hundreds • of business users and millions of consumers with customized and on-demand online services.

Network openness based on centralized controlling provides third parties • access to the end-to-end network capabilities for further development and monetization. Thus, network policies, infrastructure profiles and network QoE would all have commercial value. For instance, some applications require an extremely stable connection in order to attain high QoE. This can be achieved by certain APIs which can be monetized.

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VI. Conclusion

The industry is moving forward at an astounding pace and network

design and infrastructure are often unable to keep up with these rapid

advancements. The industry must recognize the need for changes in its

approach to managing network architecture, and these changes should not

be made in isolation. What is needed is a holistic approach to how operators

can enhance their competitiveness by reducing cost, expanding business

possibilities and creating innovative business models with open networks.

Huawei understands operators’ business needs and can provide them with

the most comprehensive and systematic portfolio of ICT solutions that will

enable them to optimize returns on their investments. SoftCOM, Huawei’s

vision of a cloud-based, systemic future network architecture, will help

operators address their challenges and enhance competitiveness for business

success by leveraging the power of SDN to transform how operators manage

their network and operations.

Cloud-lization and virtualization are key technologies abstracted along the

whole network, promoting elasticity and efficient allocation of resources

targeting to reduce overall network TCO for a smoother broadband

expansion. Additionally, the exposure of network capabilities through APIs

will trigger value creation and monetization, opening endless possibilities

for the development of applications combining CT and IT worlds. It will

dramatically improve the overall experience of end users, offering a new and

promising horizon to operators.

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Address: Huawei Industrial Base

Bantian, LonggangShenzhen 518219People's Republic of China

Website: http://www.huawei.comEmail: support@huawei.com

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