Hi Jeffrey, all,
Thanks for putting together an interesting draft on mobile user plane evolution
and related IP network related aspects.
There are some important aspects that IETF/dmm could consider for xG without
directly impacting 3GPP architecture/standards.
This is partly described in comments under (3) below but would obviously need
much more discussion in the group.
Questions/comments for consideration:
1. Motivation for tightly integrating AN/UP functions in section 1.1 is not
fully clear
The point seems to be that with further virtualization and disaggregation, the
functions could be combined.
Sure, but the advantage of "combining" them is not clearly mentioned.
- for simplification (as for multicast, mobility, etc), perhaps the draft can
outline best practices to cut out unnecessary options, integrated management of
AN + UP.
- for performance, pseudo-wire as in 1.2 or some other dedicated high speed N3
connection should suffice (along with other recommendations in 3).
2. Concerns when combining AN, UP:
While the draft points out advantages of combining, there are some risks as
well. For example:
a) QoS - the basic QoS aspects that are conveyed via N4 to UPF (filters, rules,
etc) and other policies via NG-AP to RAN (and GTP-U /N3 in between) need to be
considered in depth.
Further, there are studies in 3GPP Rel 18 that are extending the QoS model,
what's handled on N4, policies to UPF or RAN and extensions to GTP-U.
Just saying that its all at ANUP does not address the issues (and
furthermore, this would be 3GPP work).
b) network sharing - in cases where, e.g., provider A operates AN and providers
B, C operates UPs, tight integration into ANUP can be inflexible.
(Reverse is also an issue, i.e., providers X, Y operate ANs and provider Z
operates UP)
3. Other aspects
Consistent with the trend/direction to "softwarize" the different network
components, i.e., AN and UP in this case, IETF may be able to complement 3GPP
standards.
For example, scenarios where AN, UP functions deployed in an infrastructure
domain /data center and how security aspects, routing, QoS, mobility or
management of these group of functions are handled optimally.
(Note that in the above case, AN and UP are perhaps "loosely" integrated as
opposed to the "tight" integration in ANUP)
BR,
John
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