VirtRAN: An SDN/NFV-Based Framework for 5G RAN Slicing

The upcoming Fifth Generation (5G) mobile network aims to support a wide variety of services. In addition to the four standardized service use cases, network operators are also looking for the ability to deploy newer services in shorter timescales to quickly monetize the 5G network. This has resulted in the emergence of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) as key technologies for designing the 5G networks. In this paper, we provide a survey of some of the promising SDN/NFV-based architectures for the Radio Access Network (RAN) and highlight how these architectures can be utilized to support features like network virtualization and slicing. We also identify the gaps which need to be addressed by these proposals to be able to support the 5G network capabilities and list a few considerations for slicing the 5G RAN. Finally, we propose Virtualized RAN (VirtRAN), a recursive SDN/NFV-based architectural framework for RAN, which addresses some of these gaps and can be used to support features like network slicing and user mobility management in 5G networks in an efficient manner.