Building softwarized mobile infrastructures with ForCES

This paper explores how can one virtualize a mobile packet core infrastructure using the IETF Forwarding and Control Element Separation (ForCES) standard and capitalizing on recent advances in networking, namely Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Visualization (NFV). As a case in point we build a proof-of-concept (PoC) implementation of the currently standardized 3GPP Evolved Packet Core (EPC). In doing so, we separate the control from the forwarding plane in SDN terms and enable dynamic deployment and integration of new functionality as softwarized network functions running on off-the-shelf hardware as advocated by NFV. We discuss our implementation experience with the PoC and provide insights for building open 5G mobile infrastructures.