Wireless-Wireline Convergence (WWC) was front and center as one of the Broadband Forum Innovation Demonstrations at Network X in Paris, as described by Manuel Paul, WWC Work Area Director at the Broadband Forum and Squad Lead Network Convergence at Deutsche Telekom. This convergence between wireless and wireline technologies promises to significantly enhance network efficiency, reduce costs, and improve user experiences without forklift upgrades to the access network.
Collaborating closely with 3GPP, the Broadband Forum’s Wireless-Wireline Convergence Work Area has developed the framework and the standards that facilitate smooth migration models for operators deploying this technology.
The 5G-RG operates with a 5G capable software stack aligned with the software architecture under development in BBF OB-5WWC (work in progress)*. For further information please join the OB-5WWC effort.
Key Highlights:
- Broadband Service Delivery with 5G-RG: The demonstration showed the provisioning and the delivery of fixed broadband services from a 5G Core network (supplied by AxyomCore) to a wired 5G-capable Residential Gateway (5G-RG, supplied by Deutsche Telekom), via an unmodified fiber access network.
- Integrated AGF/UPF: The showcase demonstrated an integrated Access Gateway Function (AGF) and 5G Core User Plane Function (UPF), supporting Control User Plane Separation (CUPS), running in a provider cloud or public cloud.
- Dynamic Connectivity: While the current demonstration features a static 5G VLAN connection via an access Traffic Steering Function (TSF) to the AGF, future implementations could leverage Subscriber Session Steering to switch 5G customer sessions to the AGF/5G Core, leveraging synergies of evolving standards and capabilities in the fixed access network.
- Smooth migration and co-existence: The demonstration showed how wired 5G-RGs are supported via the 5G core and AGF. At the same time, unmodified/legacy RGs co-exist on the same fiber network in parallel and are steered to a Broadband Network Gateway (BNG).
- Network Streamlining: The 5GC provides the single set of common functions for control, management and service provision, streamlining network operations and reducing total cost of ownership (TCO).
- Enhanced Services: By leveraging the capabilities of the 5G core network, operators can deliver a richer set of features and services to broadband users.
A simplified block diagram of the Broadband Forum’s Wireless Wireline Convergence demonstration at Network X showing a Fixed Network Residential Gateway provisioned via a 5G Core and fed via a fiber network.
Additional Quotes
The successful end-to-end testing demonstrated at Network-X proves that wireline services can leverage a 5G Core and wireless and wireline convergence is real. We are looking forward to new innovative ideas that leverage such an architecture that could benefit both consumers by providing new capabilities and service providers by reducing overall TCO. We now need RG vendors to start developing 5G-RG solutions that could take advantage of this architecture!!
Luis Tomotaki, Verizon, Associate Fellow at Verizon Data Services
Convergence in action! Well done to all BBF members who contributed to these standards and building the demo.
Gavin Young, Vodafone, Head of Fixed Access Centre of Excellence
Legend (right to left):
- ONT – Optical Network Terminal
- OLT – Optical Line Terminal
- TSF – Traffic Steering Function
- AGF – Access Gateway Function
- CP – Control Plane
- UP – User Plane
- UPF – User Plane Function
Footnote
*Open Broadband – WWC Reference Implementation for 5G-RG (OB-5WWC) is a BBF open source project focused on creating reference implementation of BBF-specified Wireless-Wireline Convergence solution for 5G-capable Residential Gateways (5G-RG). The goal is to develop a production-grade 5G-Residential Gateway solution stack for integration into OpenWRT/prpl and RDK-B RG platforms/kits.