Why Software-Defined Mobile Network Is Crucial For 5G?

5G is not just a useful update but the beginning of a new technical revolution and era of digital transformation solutions for telecommunications. Changes are coming, and we should be ready for them. Who would have known that the synonym for readiness is Software Defined Mobile Network?

In recent years, the IT community has been actively discussing SDMN as a 5G catalyst. Global SDN market value was $ 9.9 million in 2019, but it will grow up to $72.6 million by 2027. Telco giants like Vodafone, Rogers, and AT&T are already benefiting from it. XME.digital offers to find out why Software Defined Mobile Networks have become a necessity for 5G deployment, and what are their advantages over traditional networks.

Software Defined Mobile Networks in 2021

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) brings in a paradigm shift in the network design, management, and control through its disruptive idea of separating the control plane of the embedded switching systems.

Sreekanth Sasidharan

AVP, Senior Principal Technology Architect at Infosys

SDMN definition

It is a form of network virtualization where management is decoupled from data transmission devices. Due to open APIs, Software Defined Mobile Network provides wireless centralized digital networks running without equipment peculiarities considerations. Enterprises do not need to customize each new piece of equipment for their system as it was earlier. SDMN is a versatile instrument, providing a high level of connection with any component. A company can use products from different suppliers without incompatibility risk.

The core difference between SDMN and the traditional web is the focus. In the first case, we are talking about the prevalence of software. In the second one - about the hardware priority.

Enterprises are eagerly awaiting a full-fledged 5G deployment, and on the other hand - they are wary of it. The system management process will become extremely complex, and unadapted companies cannot withstand this pressure. To avoid it, SDMN implementation must precede the 5G one.

As of 2020, among the best software-defined networking products were Cisco DNA Center, IBM Cloud Internet Services, and Ciena Blue Planet. VMware NSX is also considered one of the most reliable on the market.

SDMN’s advantages

Flexibility. The ability to quickly remote configuration allows companies to remain agile and responsive to changing business environments. SDMN's work is so accurate and scaled that enterprises can rapidly deploy complex services and set up 100% custom interactions with each client.

Highly-intelligent control. The traditional approach is legacy because devices work in a closed mode and do not receive information about the entire network state. The SDMN openness allows for consistent system management through a unified point. In this case, each component's work is optimized, and aimed at the overall positive state of the network.

Openness. Working on an open API basis allows businesses to create a neutral ecosystem using products from different suppliers. This infrastructure supports any OSS/BSS solutions, SaaS, mobile network applications, etc.

Safety. The SDMN openness provides complete network visibility and awareness of potential security threats.

How SDMN Helps to Get The Most From 5G

Today’s networks are quite static, slow to change, and dedicated to single services. With SDN you can create a network that dynamically handles many-many different services allowing you to consolidate them into one common infrastructure for both service providers and carriers.

Rod Thompson,

CTO at Ciena Corporation

How do the Software-Defined Mobile Network benefits impact the 5G performance? They define it. By transforming the legacy network into SDMN, companies demonstrate their readiness for new opportunities and difficulties. 5G infrastructure will be complex, especially if a company prefers the platform economy. Countless amounts of independent services should work smoothly as a single mechanism.

SDMN can deal with it. It provides real-time flawless management for systems of any complexity. Moreover, software-defined networking divides network resources into different options. For example, telco companies can equally support commercial ecosystems in manufacturing, healthcare, financial and other areas.

Thus, 5G and Software-Defined Mobile Networks complement each other. The second one provides a favorable environment for 5G business transformations. The first one makes it possible to manage systems error-freely and faster, enhancing the SDMN's effect.