ProCel: smart traffic handling for a scalable software EPC

Abstract

Current architecture of cellular core networks results in centralized data plane elements that maintain stateful connections, are expensive and inflexible. Software Defined Networking (SDN) based solutions for cellular core networks have been proposed both in industry and academia to increase flexibility and manageability of these networks. But, all these solutions are plagued by scalability issues that challenge the deployment of SDN in networks with high signaling traffic and large number of policy rules. In ProCel, we propose a novel design for cellular core networks, which eliminates unnecessary conscientious handling of flows in LTE core network. ProCel can potentially reduce up to 70% of data and signaling traffic at cellular core. This enables deployment of SDN technology in core networks making them flexible and evolvable. Our solution decreases application response times, allows operators to deploy virtualized network functions and better utilize CDN caches. In the long run, the programmability of ProCel system can be utilized by cellular operators to effortlessly integrate innovative services in their network.