NaaS architecture through SDN-enabled NFV: Network openness towards web communication service providers

Abstract

The sharp rise of OTT application services in recent years has called for greater application-to-network visibility. These dynamic application services represent a foremost drive in the communication ecosystem changes. However, the tight coupling between network services and network infrastructures pose challenges for network providers. They need more dynamicity in their network architectures to meet the requirements of application services. SDN and NFV is the combination of networking technologies that facilitate such an evolution. But is it sufficient to allow dynamic application-to-network interactions? In this paper, we rely on SDN-enabled NFV assets as a strong foundation to propose a dynamic and adaptable “Network-as-a-Service” architecture. We leverage our NaaS proposal with a resilient Network Exposition Layer allowing to express offers and demands of network services. To demonstrate the offered features, we propose three architecture deployment models: broad, customized and event-based dynamic model. We then instantiate our architecture within the WebRTC-based communication services, illustrating the collaboration between network providers and Communication Service Providers (CSPs).