Cybersecurity Monitoring Infrastructure Cloud & Edge Telecom Financial

Telecom

Communications Service Providers (CSPs) worldwide face unprecedented challenges as they transform their network architectures and operations to meet ever-increasing demands for network bandwidth, while addressing the unique business opportunities presented by emerging enterprise, industrial and consumer use cases.

Napatech’s SmartNIC solutions, deployed both in the telecom core and at the network edge, enable CSPs to maximize the cost-efficiency and operational reliability of their infrastructure, bringing important benefits both to traditional physical equipment and to cloud-hosted services.

Software vendors, equipment manufacturers and system integrators leverage Napatech’s SmartNICs to run critical workloads throughout the telecom network, including:

Accelerated packet processing and networking functions in the Radio Access Network (RAN), for Multi-Access Edge Compute (MEC) and in the core network, maximizing overall network performance and throughput;
Full offload of 5G Core User Plane Function (UPF), maximizing the number of subscribers supported per server and data center energy efficiency;
Accelerated virtual switching for edge and core functions, optimizing the utilization of compute resources for running applications and services.

Explore the benefits of Napatech SmartNICs

For a network-centric solutions view, click on one of the SmartNIC symbols in the network diagram
below to explore the benefits that Napatech SmartNICs provide for that network element.

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Devices

On-Premise Edge

Residential

Commercial

Retail

Industrial

Cell Site Edge Data Center

Radio Access Network (RAN)

C-RAN, O-RAN, VRAN

Edge Data Center / CDN

Cable vCMTS

Telco Core

Satellite Ground Station

Service Provider PoP

Telco Data Center

Public Cloud

Hyperscale Data Center

Edge compute (MEC)

SASE gateway

5G SA Core

Network Edge

Edge Data Center solutions accelerated by SmartNICs:

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4G RAN

5G RAN (NR)

Edge compute (MEC)

SASE gateway

4G EPC / 5G NSA Core

5G SA Core

On-Premise Edge solutions accelerated by SmartNICs:

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Edge compute (MEC)

5G SA Core

Cable vCMTS solutions accelerated by SmartNICs:

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4G RAN

5G RAN (NR)

RAN solutions accelerated by SmartNICs:

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5G SA Core

Satellite gateway

Satellite Ground Station solutions accelerated by SmartNICs:

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SASE gateway

4G EPC / 5G NSA Core

5G SA Core

Service Provider POP solutions accelerated by SmartNICs:

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4G EPC / 5G NSA Core

5G SA Core

Telco Data Center solutions accelerated by SmartNICs:

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SASE gateway

4G EPC / 5G NSA Core

5G SA Core

Public Cloud solutions accelerated by SmartNICs:

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The 5G Core represents the nucleus of a 5G network, interfacing to the 5G New Radio (NR) Radio Access Network (RAN) on one side and the internet on the other, while ensuring reliable, secure connectivity to the network for both subscribers and devices. It performs a range of critical functions within the network, including connectivity and mobility management, authentication and authorization, subscriber data management and policy management. In contrast to earlier generations of mobile networks, the 5G Core network functions are completely software-based and cloud-native, with complete abstraction of the underlying cloud infrastructure. The 5G core implements a Service-Based Architecture (SBA), in which each network function (NF) offers one or more services to other NFs via Application Programming Interfaces (API). Each NF comprises multiple microservices, which can be reused for other NFs, resulting in a highly-efficient architecture that facilitates life-cycle management. In order to accelerate the launch of 5G, Communications Service Providers (CSPs) worldwide deployed the Non-Standalone (NSA) mode, in which the 5G New Radio (NR) technology was overlaid on the existing 4G/LTE core network and RAN. NSA allowed CSPs to launch enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to deliver 5G data speeds and boost capacity, while leveraging their existing 4G/LTE infrastructure assets. CSPs have now started migrating their networks to Standalone (SA) 5G deployments, which have the potential to fully unlock the power and promise of 5G technology. Based on the 5G Core architecture along with the new 5G RAN, SA deployments introduce network slicing, massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC) and Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC). SA enables a wider range of use cases than NSA while improving operational efficiency and reducing costs for CSPs. Within the 5G Core, SmartNIC solutions from Napatech deliver compelling improvements in the performance achievable on each server, by offloading critical functions from host-based software onto FPGA platforms. 5G Core functions that benefit the most from this offload technology include:

Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Lawful Interception (LI) Media Gateway (MGW) Session Border Controller (SBC)

SmartNIC acceleration in 5G Standalone Core

User Plane Function (UPF)

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A satellite gateway is a ground station that transmits data to and from an individual satellite which is typically part of a larger constellation, providing connectivity to the Wide Area Network (WAN). It houses the antennas and equipment that convert the Radio Frequency (RF) signal to an Internet Protocol (IP) signal for terrestrial connectivity. Consumer-grade satellite internet service has typically been provided through satellites in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) that can offer relatively high data speeds, using Ku band to achieve downstream data speeds up to 506 Mbit/s. Newer constellations with larger numbers of satellites are being deployed in low-earth orbit (LEO) to enable low-latency internet access from space. In order for Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to deliver on the full promise of 5G networks such as near ubiquitous, instantaneous coverage for a massive number of connected devices, satellites will need to play a far more central role within telecom networks, with both terrestrial and space-based components working in tandem for a wider diversity of functions. In the context of a 5G network, satellites can serve three important functions:

Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Lawful Interception (LI) Session Border Controller (SBC)

SmartNIC acceleration in Satellite Gateways

User Plane Function (UPF) Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Within a satellite gateway, SmartNIC solutions from Napatech deliver compelling improvements in the performance achievable on each server, by offloading critical functions from host-based software onto FPGA platforms. Satellite gateway functions that benefit the most from this offload technology include:

Backhaul, moving data between the radio access network (RAN) and the core network, has traditionally been implemented primarily over fiber or wireless point-to-point connections. However, increasing demands on telecom networks have incentivized CSPs to evaluate different backhaul technologies in order to meet the need for high-bandwidth connectivity. Now, with high-capacity LEO constellations being deployed, 5G networks have a viable alternative for real-time data backhaul.

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Redundancy within 5G networks can be achieved through satellites providing overlay networks that duplicate segments of terrestrial networks. These overlay networks can replace or augment terrestrial networks if they experience reduced functionality due to physical damage, cyber-attacks or natural disasters. While their utility is limited, they can enable CSPs to prioritize critical services and buy time to restore access to terrestrial networks. Satellite systems overlaying aspects of terrestrial systems can provide those systems with additional resiliency through redundancy.

Remote and rural connectivity represents a “last mile” problem that is hard for CSPs to solve in a cost-effective manner, given the economics associated with low demand density. 5G makes the problem worse by enabling Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC) with support for large numbers of connected devices and machines. Satellites, integrated into terrestrial networks through new network architectures, provide an important solution by leveraging the wide coverage enabled by LEO constellations. With the integration of satellite systems into 5G networks, connectivity can be expanded to remote areas where laying fiber is not economically viable or feasible, such as small communities, offshore oil rigs, ships or aircraft.

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The Evolved Packet Core (EPC) is the framework for providing converged voice and data on a 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, first introduced with 4G rollouts worldwide. Subsequently, in order to accelerate the launch of 5G, Communications Service Providers (CSPs) deployed the 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) mode, in which the 5G New Radio (NR) technology was overlaid on the existing 4G/LTE core network and RAN. NSA allowed CSPs to launch enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to deliver 5G data speeds and boost capacity, while leveraging their existing 4G/LTE infrastructure assets. The key components of the 4G EPC / 5G NSA Core are:

Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Lawful Interception (LI) Media Gateway (MGW) Packet Data Node Gateway (PGW)

SmartNIC acceleration in 4G EPC / 5G Non-Standalone Core

Session Border Controller (SBC) Serving Gateway (SGW)

The EPC is required to support guaranteed delivery of critical, low-latency services, such as voice, alongside high-throughput, best-effort internet services on a single infrastructure. This places demanding requirements on the packet core equipment, which must scale in multiple dimensions to meet the needs of next-generation mobile broadband networks. One of these dimensions is the network "intelligence" inherent to EPC that allows CSPs to differentiate the treatment of services and applications according to technical and commercial policies. The EPC the technology and architecture is suited to supporting a common packet core network for 2G, 3G and 4G. This concept of a common packet core underlines the deeply strategic nature of EPC deployment models. Within the 4G EPC / 5G NSA Core, SmartNIC solutions from Napatech deliver compelling improvements in the performance achievable on each server, by offloading critical functions from host-based software onto FPGA platforms. 4G EPC / 5G NSA Core functions that benefit the most from this offload technology include:

The Mobility Management Entity (MME), which manages session states while authenticating and tracking users across the network;

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The Serving Gateway (SGW), which routes data packets through the access network;

The Packet Data Node Gateway (PGW), which acts as the interface between the 4G LTE network and other packet data networks; manages quality of service (QoS) and provides deep packet inspection (DPI);

The Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), which performs service data flow detection, policy enforcement and flow-based charging;

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), which enables CSPs to offer rich multimedia services across both circuit switched and packet switched networks.

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The term “Secure Access Service Edge” (SASE) was coined by Gartner in 2019 to reflect the convergence of networking and security at the edge of the network, as a follow-on to the more established technology of Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN). While SD-WAN delivered to enterprises the benefits of improved security, better management, increased agility, bandwidth optimization and faster cloud application performance, SASE integrates a range of cybersecurity features into the network fabric itself. Some of the key security functions that are typically provided as part of a SASE solution include Secure Web Gateways (SWGs), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs), Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) and Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA). Collectively these are often referred to as Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) services, all delivered under a common cloud-based policy management and security umbrella that supports secure connectivity between endpoints and resources located at any physical location worldwide. Rather than forcing network traffic back to a central data center for inspection, SASE services can place inspection engines at local Points of Presence (PoPs) based on identity and context, with traffic inspected and forwarded as appropriate through the internet or a provider backbone. This architecture connects both fixed and mobile users, whether managed or unmanaged, with resources located either private data centers or in the public cloud. While some enterprises integrate and manage their own SASE and SD-WAN deployments, there is a growing trend towards leveraging the expertise and resources of a Managed Service Provider (MSP). Many enterprises already rely on one or more service providers to keep their networks running at peak performance, so by incorporating SASE-based solutions into their portfolios those service providers can extend their security services to the edge. Within SASE gateways, SmartNIC solutions from Napatech deliver compelling improvements in the performance achievable on each server, by offloading critical functions from host-based software onto FPGA platforms. SASE functions that benefit the most from this offload technology include:

Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Firewall (FW) Routing Secure Web Gateway (SWG) Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN)

SmartNIC acceleration in SASE Gateways

Virtual Private Network (VPN) Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

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Within edge compute, SmartNIC solutions from Napatech deliver compelling improvements in the performance achievable on each server, by offloading critical functions from host-based software onto FPGA platforms. Edge compute functions that benefit the most from this offload technology include:

Industrial IoT (IIoT), where edge compute reduces connectivity costs by processing data from sensors locally and sending only relevant information to the cloud, instead of raw data streams. Within smart factories, a key benefit of edge compute is the minimization of end-to-end network latency, comprising the total time for data to travel from a sensor to the data center, information processing at the data center and the response time back to the factory.

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Video surveillance, which has become prevalent across a diverse set of applications, enabled by the proliferation of low-cost, remotely-managed, high-resolution WiFi-connected IP cameras. Beyond surveillance of people in transportation hubs, city streets, retail environments, events and other public places, video surveillance is also widely used for commercial and residential security as well as for monitoring processes in applications such as manufacturing, agriculture, energy and logistics. Edge compute enables high-resolution video data to be processed either within the camera itself or a local edge server, rather than remotely in the cloud.

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Augmented Reality (AR), which extends beyond consumer use cases. Manufacturing is one segment where AR has the potential to significantly improve productivity through cost reductions along with increased operational efficiency. In manufacturing facilities, AR enables lesser-skilled workers to perform maintenance tasks, rather than having an expert engineer on site at all times. A key advantage of edge compute for AR experiences is the ability to reduce dizziness associated with high latency and slow frame refresh rates.

The basic concept of edge compute is that locating compute and storage at the edge of the network, close to the physical location where data is collected, enables that data to be processed and analyzed locally rather than in a central data center or in the cloud. This minimizes the latency associated with decision-making in real-time applications, reduces connectivity costs by sending only the information that matters to the cloud, improves security by keeping sensitive data close to its source and enables autonomous operation in the event that connectivity is lost or intermittent. As an extension of cloud computing, edge compute enables real-time data collection and analysis, while applications running in the cloud itself provide centralized analytics and interpretation. Together, the combination of edge compute and cloud compute enables businesses to maximize their overall operational efficiency while deploying new types of services and applications that depend on real-time responsiveness to data from both consumers and devices. ETSI coined the term Multi-access Edge Compute (formerly Mobile Edge Compute) or MEC to refer to a set of open standards allowing the seamless integration of applications across multi-vendor edge compute platforms. Companies in a wide range of industries have started to adopt edge compute as a key technology driving the transformation of their businesses. Examples include:

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Firewall (FW) Lawful Interception (LI) RAN Centralized Unit (CU)

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SmartNIC acceleration in Edge Compute (MEC)

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

5G RAN infrastructure, for which edge compute is an inherent requirement as the only way to meet the network latency requirements.

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Back to overview

The radio spectrum used by 5G networks covers more radio frequencies than 4G. Because of this, 5G requires new types of nodes and radio access technologies (RATS) to use the new spectrum. 5G NR (New Radio) is the RAT developed for 5G. Key benefits of 5G NR include more capacity for wireless users, improved links among users (reducing lag time and network loss), and enhanced data rates. 5G NR also enables the network to support adaptive bandwidth. Nodes specific to 5G RAN are called gNBs and are responsible for all functions related to radio technology. The gNB nodes support NR devices via the NR user plane and control plane protocols. A gNB is a logical node rather than a purely physical one and is commonly deployed as a three sector site. In such a deployment, a base station is present at each site. However, one baseband processing unit (BBU) can also connect to several remote radio heads. For example, one base station can serve a building or factory that has multiple indoor radio heads. Typically, a 5G RAN is split into two major segments, where one segment comprises one or more distributed units (DUs) and the other segment is a central unit (CU), communicating over with the F1 interface. The DUs are located at a specific site in the network edge and are controlled by the CUs. A CU can be located with the DU or somewhere closer to the network core, such as a regional cloud data center. Virtualization separates the networking functions from the hardware they run on, allowing them to be updated as technology advances. This makes 5G infrastructure a type of virtual RAN (vRAN). Open RAN (O-RAN) is a term used for industry-wide standards for RAN interfaces that support interoperability between vendors’ equipment and offer network flexibility at a lower cost. The main purpose of O-RAN is to have an interoperability standard for RAN elements including non-proprietary white box hardware and software from different vendors. Communications Service Providers (CSPs) that opt for RAN elements with standard interfaces can avoid being locked-in to one vendor’s proprietary hardware and software. In addition to the O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU),O-RAN DU (O-DU) and O-RAN CU (O-CU), the O-RAN system architecture includes the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). There are two types of RICs, non-real-time and near-real-time. Both are logical functions for controlling and optimizing the elements and resources of an O-RAN. Within a 5G RAN, SmartNIC solutions from Napatech deliver compelling improvements in the performance achievable on each server, by offloading critical functions from host-based software onto FPGA platforms. 5G RAN functions that benefit the most from this offload technology include:

Cell Site Router (CSR) Central Unit (CU) Distributed Unit (DU)

SmartNIC acceleration in 5G New Radio (NR) Radio Access Network (RAN)

Open RAN (O-RAN)

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New 4G mobile networks use a RAN architecture known as Cloud RAN (C-RAN), sometimes referred to as “Centralized RAN” which enables a RAN cell site to be simplified to where it's just the radio unit comprising power amplifiers, filters and the antenna, by centralizing and then virtualizing processing functions that were traditionally performed by dedicated networking equipment located at the cell sites. The cost of the baseband and call processing functions drops dramatically thanks to COTS hardware and virtualization. Simultaneously, the risk of network downtime is reduced and the overall experience for subscribers is improved. In the C-RAN architecture, the basestation (BTS) is decomposed by decoupling its remote radio head (RRH) at the cell site from its baseband unit (BBU). Multiple RRHs are connected to a single, shared BBU over dark fiber, via a "fronthaul" interface that is either Common Protocol Radio Interface (CPRI) or Open Basestation Architecture Initiative (OBSAI). Separating the RRHs from the BBUs reduces the cost (both CAPEX and OPEX) of the equipment at the cell site. Depending on the level of aggregation, it brings some economies of scale to the BBU, the cost of which is also reduced whenever it's located indoors. In the next phase of consolidation, several such BBUs are grouped together and aggregated to form a Centralized BBU (C-BBU). Within the C-BBU, processing resources are pooled and allocated based on RRH traffic. Often, a C-BBU will support both residential and business areas, with resource allocation adjusted dynamically as traffic patterns change during the day. This solution is limited to small clusters of RRHs because complexity increases exponentially with larger clusters of RRHs. It yields significant some cost savings compared to the basic centralized RAN approach where BBUs in both residential and business areas must be sized for peak traffic. The next step is a true Cloud RAN architecture known as virtual RAN (vRAN), in which the centralized BBUs supporting large clusters of cell sites are virtualized. These "vBBUs" can be instantiated on standard COTS server platforms rather than on dedicated custom, fixed-function equipment from traditional RAN vendors. Depending on the approach, the fronthaul transport provisioning may require very high bandwidth and ultra-low latency, or nominal bandwidth and low latency or nominal bandwidth and relaxed latency. Also, computational efficiency is a major concern in some of the approaches. The base stations in 4G networks are termed evolved Node B (eNodeB). The eNodeB performs perform the radio access functions that are equivalent to the combined work that the Node B and RNC perform in 3G UMTS networks. Within a 4G RAN, SmartNIC solutions from Napatech deliver compelling improvements in the performance achievable on each server, by offloading critical functions from host-based software onto FPGA platforms. RAN functions that benefit the most from this offload technology include:

Cell Site Router (CSR) Cloud RAN (C-RAN) Evolved Node B (eNodeB)

SmartNIC acceleration in 4G Radio Access Network (RAN)

Virtual RAN (vRAN)

Explore applications and services directly

Alternatively, click on one of the applications and services listed below to learn about specific functions and protocols that are accelerated by Napatech SmartNICs: