ZTE and Intel have released a white paper covering an NFV reference design for a containerized vEPC application as part of the two companies' joint research into virtualization of telecoms networks.
The two companies are jointly researching cloud native and NFV technologies. Intel is helping ZTE develop virtual evolved packet core applications based on cloud native architecture.
The white paper highlights that such vEPC applications are compatible with and open to cloud platforms based on open source container technology. The vEPC application uses s microservice design to achieve network function atomization to speed delivery of new services.
Each microservice is also run, upgraded and deployed separately to improve flexibility, the companies said.
A vEPC microservice adopts a stateless design to achieve 99.999% carrier-grade reliability in commercial off the shelf hardware.
The vEPC solution is expected to be fully compatible with 5G, with guaranteed upper layer service continuity for future wireless network evolution and upgrades.