Can This Collaboration Revolutionize Private 5G Deployments for Enterprises?

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In a significant move for the telecommunications industry, Druid Software, an Ireland-based private 5G specialist, has unveiled an advanced product aimed at enhancing private 5G deployments for enterprises and network edges. This new high-end version of its 5G core network is designed to empower enterprises, operators, and other system vendors to distribute and manage network software functions across multiple edge locations to support standalone 5G (5G SA) features such as network slicing and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC).

The Power of Collaboration

Integrating Hardware and Software Technologies

In a bid to transform the landscape of private 5G deployments, Druid Software has partnered with Danish telecom chipmaker Napatech and US software firm Red Hat to develop a comprehensive solution that combines cutting-edge hardware and software technologies. Napatech contributes to the collaboration with its smart network interface card (SmartNIC), which offloads the user plane function (UPF) data plane from the server CPU, enhancing efficiency. Concurrently, Red Hat provides an edge server platform that manages the network through a distributed architecture, facilitating seamless integration and control.

The shift to standalone 5G (5G SA) brings about several advanced control features that were previously unattainable in non-standalone 5G (5G NSA) networks. These groundbreaking features include network slicing, which enables the segmentation of airwaves to optimize enterprise services conveniently. Additionally, the advent of ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) serves as a critical component for achieving premium performance in 5G-based applications, promising to deliver unprecedented levels of reliability and speed. The integration of these features stands to revolutionize the efficiency and capabilities of private network setups for industrial enterprises.

Addressing Architectural and Management Challenges

Implementing these innovative features in private network setups for industrial enterprises necessitates a re-architecting of network software functions across multiple low-footprint and low-power edge data centers near the user. Deploying network functions like the 5G packet core at the edge of the network is vital to fully realize the benefits of 5G SA. This complex transition requires a multitude of small-footprint, cost-effective, and energy-efficient edge data centers that are manageable with straightforward processes for deployment and operations.

The collaborative efforts by Druid Software, Napatech, and Red Hat are focused on overcoming these architectural and management challenges to ensure the high-performance features of 5G SA are delivered as promised. By distributing the 5G packet core to the edge of the network, the trio aims to maximize the benefits of standalone 5G deployments. This effort is underscored by Druid’s Raemis packet core software, which uses a Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) driver to accelerate the UPF, working harmoniously with Napatech’s SmartNIC and Red Hat’s distributed management.

Technological Innovations

Druid’s Raemis Packet Core Software

A statement from the companies emphasized the importance of situating the 5G packet core at the edge of the network to exploit the full potential of standalone 5G deployments. The integrated solution leverages Druid’s Raemis packet core software, utilizing a Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) driver to accelerate the UPF with Napatech’s SmartNIC. The distributed packet core is managed by Red Hat Device Edge, simplifying the deployment and lifecycle management of cloud-native workloads and enabling efficient, scalable 5G deployments.

Ian Hood, chief technology officer for Red Hat’s telecom business, highlighted the pivotal role of Red Hat Device Edge in enabling cost-effective, energy-efficient, and scalable 5G deployments. He noted that the synergy of innovative hardware and software technologies from Napatech and Druid serves to simplify the deployment of distributed 5G networks. This collaboration empowers both enterprises and service providers to unlock the full potential of 5G services, delivering optimized performance and streamlined operations tailored to modern demands.

Napatech’s SmartNIC and Red Hat Device Edge

Tadhg Kenny, senior vice president of marketing at Druid Software, elucidated that the Raemis platform equips private networks with essential features such as REST API support, fully virtualized deployments, customizable technology, 5G support, and network slicing. The integration of the Raemis platform with Red Hat Device Edge ensures consistent and reliable deployments. Meanwhile, Napatech’s SmartNIC offers packet core acceleration, achieving up to 2x 100G line rate traffic on a single server, depending on specific use cases, thereby significantly enhancing network performance and scalability.

The collaboration between these tech giants also addresses a fundamental industry challenge: managing the growing complexity and demands of next-generation networks. By offloading the UPF data plane from server CPUs and utilizing Napatech’s SmartNIC, the number of servers needed in edge data centers is reduced, freeing up CPU resources for value-added services such as the centralized RAN unit (RAN CU). This innovative approach not only streamlines operations but also offers a cost-effective solution to enterprises navigating the shift to more advanced 5G networks.

Performance and Efficiency

Technical Insights from Napatech

Taking a closer look at the technical aspects, Charlie Ashton, senior director for business development at Napatech, provided valuable insights into the advanced capabilities of Napatech’s NT200 SmartNIC. Powered by the AMD Virtex UltraScale+ XCVU5P FPGA, the SmartNIC is capable of processing up to 185 million concurrent flows and achieving a throughput of up to 297 million packets per second. Furthermore, it boasts impressively low latency of under five microseconds, marking a significant leap in network performance and responsiveness.

The ability of the NT200 SmartNIC to offload the UPF data plane from the server CPU and use only a single core for the UPF control plane dramatically reduces the number of servers required in an edge data center. This not only optimizes operational efficiency but also frees up CPU resources that can be allocated to value-added services, such as the centralized RAN unit (RAN CU). By enhancing efficiency and reducing hardware costs, Napatech’s SmartNIC plays a crucial role in enabling the next phase of 5G network evolution.

Industry Perspective on 5G Evolution

In a noteworthy development for the telecommunications sector, Druid Software, an Ireland-based company specializing in private 5G networks, has introduced an advanced product designed to optimize private 5G implementations for businesses and network edges. This high-end edition of its 5G core network aims to enable enterprises, telecom operators, and other system vendors to distribute and manage network software functions across multiple edge locations. This capability is essential for supporting standalone 5G (5G SA) features such as network slicing and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), which are crucial for modern, high-performance telecommunications. By facilitating these capabilities, Druid Software’s new product is poised to significantly enhance the efficiency and reliability of private 5G networks, making it a valuable asset for companies seeking to leverage the full potential of 5G technology. This move underscores the growing importance of sophisticated, edge-based solutions in the deployment of advanced telecommunications infrastructure.

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