Ericsson’s new Compact Packet Core (CPC) solution represents a significant step towards simplifying and enhancing the upgrade of telcos’ packet cores to cloud-native technology, supporting the seamless operation of 4G and 5G networks. This article delves into how this solution can address the general sluggishness in rolling out 5G Standalone (5G SA) networks and aims to make this transition smoother, quicker, and more efficient for Communication Service Providers (CSPs). By focusing on interoperability, security, and ease of migration, the CPC offers several promising prospects for the telecom industry.
Introduction to Compact Packet Core
Simplifying the Transition to Cloud-Native Technology
The Compact Packet Core combines Ericsson’s cloud-native Packet Core Controller (PCC) and Packet Core Gateway (PCG) with its cloud-native infrastructure (CNIS) into a single compact rack. This integrated solution minimizes the complexity and logistical burden typically associated with moving to cloud-native infrastructure. By providing pre-defined parameter settings and streamlined migration procedures, Ericsson argues that the CPC simplifies the transition to cloud-native core networks, guaranteeing better efficiency and a maximized return on investment.
One of the key challenges in transitioning to a cloud-native infrastructure is managing the various elements and ensuring that they operate seamlessly together. The CPC addresses this challenge by pre-integrating critical functionalities into a coherent whole, thereby reducing the need for extensive interoperability and integration testing. This approach not only alleviates the technical burden on CSPs but also expedites the overall transition process. Moreover, by ensuring that all components are harmonized from the outset, Ericsson’s solution facilitates rapid deployment and operationalization.
Targeting Legacy Infrastructure Migration
Uniquely, the CPC’s design specifically targets reducing the complexity of deploying cloud-native packet cores and related cloud infrastructure. Ulf Jönsson, Head of Offering Area Packet Core at Ericsson, emphasizes that a significant advantage comes when migrating from legacy infrastructure, such as Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI), to a cloud-native setup. This transition is essential, not only to provide a future-proof platform for network growth but also to ensure compliance with the latest software updates and security features.
The migration from legacy systems to a cloud-native infrastructure is not merely about technological advancement but also about economic prudence. Legacy systems often involve higher operational costs, increased risk of obsolescence, and greater vulnerability to security threats. By simplifying the migration to cloud-native technology, the CPC helps CSPs mitigate these risks while optimizing their operational expenditures. Furthermore, this transition lays the groundwork for future innovations, enabling CSPs to leverage new technologies and service models that can enhance their competitive edge in the telecommunications market.
Key Features and Benefits of CPC
Pre-Integration and Simplified Migration
Jönsson points out that the transition typically involves extensive interoperability and integration testing, alongside the critical task of aligning business logic to the new system. The pre-integration of CPC significantly decreases the time and labor required for this migration, allowing CSPs to transition to cloud-native systems more straightforwardly, setting the stage for various future advancements. These advancements include launching cloud-native 5G Core, which is vital for 5G SA, expanding capacity for existing LTE and 5G NSA networks, or reducing overheads through In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU).
Pre-integration means that Ericsson has pre-configured essential components, ensuring they work seamlessly together, thus reducing the potential for compatibility issues. This approach minimizes the likelihood of disruptions during the migration phase, allowing CSPs to focus on leveraging new functionalities and optimizing performance. The reduction in time and labor not only translates to cost savings but also accelerates time-to-market for new services, facilitating more agile and responsive service delivery. As a result, CSPs can stay ahead of market demands and technological advancements.
Faster Deployment and Automatic Updates
Regarding 5G SA specifically, CPC significantly reduces the time to market for launch by leveraging pre-configurations, which result in faster deployment times. Automatic software updates ensure that the software remains up-to-date, efficient, and secure. The capability to deploy such advanced technologies quickly is crucial in a highly competitive market where time-to-market can be a decisive factor in gaining a competitive edge.
Automatic software updates further enhance operational efficiency by reducing the need for manual interventions, thus lowering the risk of human error. These updates ensure that CSPs are always running the latest, most secure software versions, which is essential for maintaining optimal performance and security standards. The combination of rapid deployment and automated updates positions CSPs to rapidly roll out new features and services, meeting customer expectations and driving revenue growth.
Scalability and Flexibility
Adaptable to Various Network Sizes
CPC is adaptable to various network sizes, capable of scaling down to four servers while also scaling up to 24 servers if necessary, though the largest deployments are expected to be around 14 servers. The suitability of CPC for any given CSP depends on the network’s topology and the core network’s design. It is a comprehensive Packet Core solution that can be deployed centrally, regionally, or at the edge.
This scalability is particularly important as it allows CSPs to tailor the deployment to their specific needs without incurring unnecessary costs. Smaller networks or those just beginning their transition to cloud-native technologies can start with a minimal configuration and scale up as their requirements grow. Conversely, larger networks can leverage the scalability of CPC to handle higher traffic volumes and more complex service demands, ensuring consistent performance and reliability across all network operations.
Cloud-Native Features and Automation
The CPC delivers the simplicity characteristic of the appliance approach while retaining key cloud-native benefits. It includes cloud-native features such as automation, ISSU, Container-as-a-Service (CaaS) rolling upgrades, and offers CSPs the flexibility to adapt the network to new use cases or workloads as they evolve their services. Automation, in particular, is a game-changer, enabling CSPs to reduce manual interventions and enhance operational efficiency through intelligent, automated processes.
The inclusion of CaaS rolling upgrades means that CSPs can deploy new software versions without taking the network offline, thereby ensuring continuous service availability. This feature is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and preventing service disruptions that could negatively impact business operations. Additionally, the ability to adapt the network to new workloads and use cases ensures that CSPs can quickly respond to emerging market trends and opportunities, thereby staying competitive and innovative in a rapidly evolving industry.
Integration and Compatibility
Full-Stack CNIS and Third-Party Cloud Providers
Ericsson’s CPC core network functions are pre-integrated and deployed on its full-stack CNIS. This solution leverages the entire Ericsson stack without requiring other cloud providers to host these functions. However, Ericsson’s core network functions are verified compatible with various other cloud-infrastructure providers, providing telcos with flexibility in their infrastructure choices. This flexibility is crucial as it enables CSPs to select the most suitable infrastructure for their specific needs and business strategies.
By integrating CPC with third-party cloud providers, Ericsson ensures that CSPs can leverage existing investments in cloud infrastructure while benefiting from the advanced capabilities of CPC. This compatibility not only reduces the total cost of ownership but also prevents vendor lock-in, offering CSPs greater freedom and agility in their technological decisions. The ability to integrate seamlessly with multiple cloud environments ensures that CSPs can optimize their operations, leveraging the best aspects of each platform to deliver superior services to their customers.
Microservices-Based Architecture
Despite its compact nature, the CPC offers all the cloud-native capabilities typically associated with a full-scale deployment, including a microservices-based architecture and containerization. Jönsson emphasizes the importance of these capabilities, particularly automated software updates through ISSU, which are only possible thanks to the microservices-based architecture. This architecture enables greater modularity and flexibility, allowing CSPs to deploy and manage individual components independently.
The microservices-based approach also enhances fault tolerance and resilience, as the failure of one service does not necessarily impact the entire network. This modularity allows CSPs to scale individual components based on specific demand, optimizing resource utilization and performance. Containerization further enhances these benefits by packaging microservices with all their dependencies, ensuring consistent deployment across various environments. This combination of microservices and containerization positions CPC as a robust and adaptable solution for modern telecommunications networks.
Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings
Centralized Lifecycle Management
The transition to cloud-native operations with the CPC offers significant advantages, such as faster software upgrades through ISSU, automation, and centralized service delivery. This ensures the CSP is always on the latest software versions, facilitating rapid deployment of new services and maintaining up-to-date security features. Additionally, Ericsson Orchestrator and OMC as part of the solution enhance centralized Lifecycle Management (LCM) and observability for efficient operation and maintenance.
Centralized LCM enables CSPs to manage the entire lifecycle of their network components from a single interface, streamlining operations and reducing the administrative burden. Enhanced observability ensures that CSPs have real-time insights into network performance and potential issues, allowing for proactive maintenance and faster resolution of problems. This centralized approach not only increases operational efficiency but also ensures that networks remain robust, secure, and capable of supporting advanced services and applications.
Financial and Energy Savings
While Ericsson is cautious about quantified total cost of ownership benefits for CPC, various advantages suggest potential financial, operational, and energy savings. Reducing parameter configurations by 80% lowers migration and deployment costs, and the time from hardware installation to customer handover is only about six weeks. CPC can also reduce energy consumption and hardware footprint by up to 30% due to its ability to leverage the latest CPU generations.
The reduction in parameter configurations means that CSPs can significantly decrease the time and resources required for network setup and configuration, translating to lower operational costs. The rapid deployment timeline from hardware installation to customer handover further reduces the time to revenue, enabling CSPs to start generating returns on their investments more quickly. Additionally, the energy efficiency of CPC contributes to lower operating expenses and supports sustainability initiatives, making it an environmentally and economically prudent choice for forward-thinking CSPs.
Market Position and Future Prospects
Ericsson’s new Compact Packet Core (CPC) solution is a notable advancement in making the upgrade of telecommunications companies’ packet cores to cloud-native technology more seamless and efficient, supporting the smooth operation of 4G and 5G networks. This innovation is particularly relevant as it addresses the general sluggishness in the deployment of 5G Standalone (5G SA) networks. The CPC solution aims to streamline this transition, making it faster and more effective for Communication Service Providers (CSPs).
The importance of this solution lies in its focus on interoperability, security, and ease of migration. It offers a straightforward path for CSPs to enhance their network capabilities without facing significant downtime or technical difficulties. Integrating CPC into their infrastructure allows CSPs to handle the complexities of 4G and 5G network operations more fluidly.
By leveraging cloud-native technology, CSPs can expect improved network performance, scalability, and flexibility. This not only helps in meeting current demands but also in anticipating future needs as data usage continues to grow. The introduction of CPC ensures that telcos can keep pace with technological advancements, providing consistent and reliable service to their customers. Overall, Ericsson’s CPC solution is poised to play a critical role in the telecom industry’s journey towards widespread 5G adoption, making it a crucial development for future connectivity.