Grant: Alliance Grants

The proposed project aims at developing novel algorithms for the 5G Core Network Placement to meet Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The ultimate goal is to minimize the number of virtual network functions in 5G packet core while meeting the latency requirements. Thus, this project aims to address the trade-off between latency and operational costs in a 5G network, which is expected to cover 82% of the population by 2025. Higher speed, lower latency and greater capacity of 5G networks will enable improved livestreaming and improved augmented reality. These improvements will enable various services such as connected cars, advanced gaming, tactile Internet, remote healthcare and many others. The proposed project will follow a holistic approach anchored around three main research themes: 1) Development of real time and feasible algorithms for user and control plane virtual network function (VNF) placement in the 5G packet core, 2) Optimization and AI-enabled models for VNF placement , and 3) Test bed implementation and verification of the developed algorithms. Achieving each of these schemes will enable meeting the core logical components of efficient and low latency 5G networks. The proposed research themes are novel and respond to the emerging needs of the increasing demands in the management and control of 5G packet core. Accordingly, this project relies on heuristic, optimization and machine learning-based planning schemes to develop intelligent and cost-efficient strategies, techniques, algorithms, and methods for each of the studied themes. This will consequently result in million dollars of gains by saving from what is spent for recovering SLA violations due to not being able to meet latency requirements, as well as savings from operational expenditures for placing many VNFs across the network core. Furthermore, while addressing the latency and efficient management needs of the partner company, Ciena, many businesses across the country will benefit from the outcomes as they will serve for the needs of the Canadian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector to take the lead in the AI-enabled 5G networks and ecosystems enabled by 5G.