SDN based Control and Management of WLANs in the 3GPP 5G Network

TL;DR

This paper proposes an SDN-based architecture to enhance control, management, and seamless integration of WLANs within the 5G network, addressing the growing demand for high data rate mobile broadband.

Contribution

It introduces a novel SDN architecture specifically designed for efficient WLAN control and integration in 5G systems, improving network management capabilities.

Findings

Enhanced WLAN control and management in 5G networks

Seamless WLAN and 5G integration mechanism

Improved network efficiency and flexibility

Abstract

The exponential growth in mobile broadband usage [1] has catalyzed the need for high data rate communication systems. In this regard, activities for standardizing the next generation mobile broadband system, known as the Fifth Generation(5G) system are underway. The 5G system also enables the integration of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) for providing cost-effective broadband connectivity. It is therefore imperative to find solutions for control and management of WLANs, while providing seamless inter-working capabilities with the cellular network. In this paper, we propose a novel Software Defined Networking (SDN) based architecture for efficient control and management of IEEE WLANs while providing a mechanism for smooth integration of WLANs within the 5G system.