4.1

4. IoT-dedicated Networking with NFV

4.1 Concept of IoT-dedicated Network

We propose an IoT-dedicated network as the solution to the issues discussed above.

The IoT-dedicated network is a network optimized for IoT services and separated from the traditional smart phone oriented networks. It builds the EPC (Evolved Packet Core) nodes, including the MME (Mobility Management Entity), P-GW (Packet data network Gateway) and S-GW (Serving Gateway) for each service. Fig. 3 shows the concept of the IoT-dedicated network and Fig. 4 shows an example of its configuration.

For example, when building a dedicated sensor network, it is possible to build a mobile network that is tuned optimally according to the C-Plane/U-Plane ratio proper to a sensor network in which a large number of devices are coected.

By building such a network on the same platform as an ordinary network by using the NFV function, it is possible to extend the equipment according to the properties of IoT traffic with reduced CAPEX/OPEX.

Additionally, optimization of network services and resources using the MANO (Management and Orchestration) and use of low-latency processing using MEC (Mobile Edge Computing) enable the flexible handling of the diverse traffic requirements of the IoT.

In the following sections 4.2 to 4.4, we describe the technologies necessary for building an IoT-dedicated network.