Advances in Telecommunication Networks

Objectives

The course aims to provide students with advanced knowledge of the architectural and technological evolution of modern communication networks, with particular emphasis on the transition from traditional vertically integrated infrastructures towards software-based, programmable, virtualized, cloud-native, orchestrated, disaggregated, and open architectures. Starting from the limitations of conventional network models, the course introduces the principles of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and control-plane and data-plane programmability, including network interfaces, telemetry, and major control applications. It then addresses Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Telco Cloud and Edge Cloud infrastructures, Cloud-Native Network Functions, and the management and orchestration of network functions and services. A dedicated part covers 5G system architectures, including NG-RAN, functional decomposition of the gNB, the 5G Core, and the main mechanisms for registration, session management, Quality of Service, and Network Slicing. The final part focuses on Open Radio Access Networks (O- RAN), Open Fronthaul, the Service Management and Orchestration framework, RAN Intelligent Controllers, the A1 and E2 interfaces, and the role of xApps, rApps, and dApps in programmable RAN control. Theoretical lectures are integrated with practice and laboratory activities, carried out individually or in groups, to consolidate the concepts introduced in class, provide experience with modern networking tools and software platforms, and develop technical analysis, comparison, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. The overall organization of the course also enables students to connect the different architectural levels, from the data plane and programmable control to virtualized functions, orchestration, and intelligent RAN control, thereby developing an integrated view of the mechanisms that characterize next-generation communication infrastructures

Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will understand the principles, components, and relationships of programmable, virtualized, cloud-native, 5G, and O-RAN architectures, including SDN, NFV, orchestration, RAN disaggregation, Open Fronthaul, and RAN Intelligent Controllers, and their role in the evolution of modern networks.

Applying knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to apply the concepts introduced in class to the configuration, analysis, and evaluation of programmable, virtualized, and cloud-native network environments. Laboratory activities will provide experience with modern tools and platforms and with software-defined, mobile, and open architectures.

Making judgements
Students will be able to critically evaluate alternative network architectures in terms of programmability, flexibility, scalability, latency, interoperability, resource utilization, resilience, and management complexity. This ability will also be developed through comparative analysis and practical activities.

Communication skills
Students will be able to discuss advanced communication-network technologies using appropriate technical terminology and to describe and compare architectures, protocols, interfaces, and technological solutions. They will also be able to communicate the results of technical analyses and individual or group practical activities effectively.

Learning skills 
Students will develop the ability to independently study emerging communication-network technologies and to understand technical and scientific documentation, standards, specifications, and research literature concerning programmable, virtualized, cloud-native, mobile, disaggregated, and open network architectures.

The course includes 28 hours of face-to-face lectures, corresponding to 4 CFU, and 30 hours of practice and laboratory activities, corresponding to 2 CFU. Lectures introduce the architectural and technological principles of SDN, NFV, cloud-native networking, orchestration, 5G systems, and O-RAN. Practical activities are aimed at applying the theoretical concepts, familiarizing students with modern software tools and platforms for communication networks, and developing the ability to analyze and evaluate programmable, virtualized, mobile, and open network environments. Activities may be carried out individually or in groups and support both the applied and transversal skills stated in the expected learning outcomes. If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

• 3G and 4G mobile networks

Useful knowledge

Attendance is not compulsory. However, attendance is strongly recommended, particularly for the practical and laboratory activities, due to the experimental nature of several topics addressed during the course.

Part 1: Software-Defined Networking and Network Programmability (10 hours)

[Lectures: 7 hours – Practice and laboratory: 3 hours]

• Software-Defined Networking: limitations of traditional network architectures; separation between control plane

and data plane; principles of Software-Defined Networking; logically centralized network control; SDN controller

architecture; northbound and southbound interfaces; principles of OpenFlow; flow tables; match-action rules.

• Network programmability: programmable control plane and programmable data plane; differences between

control-plane and data-plane programmability; network APIs; network telemetry; principles of programmable

packet processing.

• SDN applications: traffic engineering; programmable routing; load balancing; policy enforcement; network

monitoring; failure detection and recovery; advantages and limitations of Software-Defined Networking.

Part 2: Network Function Virtualization and Cloud-Native Networking (10 hours)

[Lectures: 7 hours – Practice and laboratory: 3 hours]

• Network Function Virtualization: evolution from hardware-based network appliances to software-based network

functions; Physical Network Functions; Virtual Network Functions; NFV Infrastructure; ETSI NFV architectural

principles; compute, storage, and network virtualization; advantages and limitations of NFV; Cloud-Native

Network Functions.

• Telco Cloud and Edge Cloud: centralized and distributed cloud infrastructures; Edge Computing; Telco Cloud

architectures; placement of network functions; requirements of telecommunications workloads; real-time

constraints.

Part 3: Network and Service Orchestration (9 hours)

[Lectures: 6 hours – Practice and laboratory: 3 hours]

• NFV Management and Orchestration: ETSI NFV-MANO architecture; NFV Orchestrator; VNF Manager;

Virtualized Infrastructure Manager; lifecycle management of Virtual Network Functions and Network Services;

service chaining; cloud-native orchestration of network functions and services.

Part 4: 5G System Architecture (10 hours)

[Lectures: 7 hours – Practice and laboratory: 3 hours]

• 5G Radio Access Network architecture: NG-RAN architecture; gNB architecture; Centralized Unit, Distributed

Unit, and Radio Unit; separation between CU Control Plane and CU User Plane; centralized and distributed

deployment options; principles of RAN functional decomposition; introduction to functional splits; main interfaces

of the 5G Radio Access Network.

• 5G Core Network: evolution from the Evolved Packet Core to the 5G Core; Service-Based Architecture; Access

and Mobility Management Function; Session Management Function; User Plane Function; Authentication Server

Function; Unified Data Management; Policy Control Function; Network Repository Function; separation between

control plane and user plane; user registration; PDU sessions; Quality of Service; Network Slicing.

Part 5: O-RAN Architecture and Control (19 hours)

[Lectures: 10 hours – Practice and laboratory: 9 hours]

• O-RAN architecture: evolution from traditional and virtualized Radio Access Networks towards Open RAN;

principles of openness and interoperability; O-RAN Alliance; O-RAN system architecture; O-RU; O-DU; O-CU-

CP; O-CU-UP; relationship between 3GPP and O-RAN architectural components; functional Split 7.2x; Open

Fronthaul; eCPRI; fronthaul capacity and latency requirements; synchronization requirements; Precision Time

Protocol; SyncE; multi-vendor interoperability.

• Service Management and Orchestration in O-RAN: O-RAN Service Management and Orchestration architecture;

role of the SMO; O1 interface; O2 interface; management and lifecycle of O-RAN network functions;

management of cloud infrastructures; relationship between O-RAN SMO, cloud-native orchestration, and ETSI

NFV-MANO.

• RAN Intelligent Controllers: architecture and role of the Non-Real-Time RIC and Near-Real-Time RIC; control

timescales; A1 interface; E2 interface; E2 nodes; E2 Service Models; telemetry; subscription, indication, and

control mechanisms.

• xApps, rApps, and dApps: architecture and lifecycle; programmable applications for RAN monitoring and control;

policies; interaction with RIC platforms; closed-loop RAN control; measurement, decision, action, and feedback;

examples of use cases including traffic steering, mobility management, interference coordination, and energy

saving; coordination and potential conflicts among control applications.

Contribution to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

The topics addressed in the course contribute primarily to Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure of the

United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through the study of advanced, programmable,

virtualized, cloud-native, and open communication-network infrastructures. The study of resource-efficient and

energy-aware network architectures also contributes to the development of more sustainable digital infrastructures.

[1] Lecture slides and lecture notes provided by the lecturers.

[2] Selected technical documentation and standards relevant to the course topics.

The examination consists of a single oral examination aimed at assessing knowledge and understanding of the

topics covered during the course. Questions will address the main architectural principles and technologies

introduced and may require students to compare different architectural solutions, explain the operation of protocols

and interfaces, and establish connections among the different topics in the programme. Knowledge and skills

acquired through practical and laboratory activities may also be assessed during the examination.

The assessment will take into account:

• relevance and correctness of the answers with respect to the questions asked

• quality and completeness of the technical content

• ability to establish connections with other topics covered in the course

• ability to provide relevant examples

• appropriate use of technical terminology

• overall communication and presentation skills

Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it.To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal

interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and

specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le

Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

• Describe the separation between control plane and data plane in a Software-Defined Network and explain the

role of an SDN controller.

• Describe the ETSI NFV-MANO architecture and the roles of NFVO, VNFM, and VIM.

• Explain the differences among resource orchestration, service orchestration, and network orchestration.

• Describe the architecture of the 5G Core Network and explain the roles of AMF, SMF, and UPF.

• Describe the functional decomposition of the 5G Radio Access Network.

• Describe the O-RAN architecture and the roles of O-RU, O-DU, and O-CU.

• Explain the role of the O-RAN Service Management and Orchestration framework.

• Compare the Near-Real-Time RIC and the Non-Real-Time RIC.

• Explain the purpose of the A1 and E2 interfaces.

• Describe the role of xApps and rApps in an O-RAN architecture.

• Discuss the main technical requirements and challenges of the O-RAN Open Fronthaul.