eDECOR (Enhanced Dedicated Core Network)

eDECOR (Enhanced Dedicated Core Network) is a wireless communication network architecture that is designed to improve the performance, reliability, and security of the existing 2G/3G/4G mobile networks. The eDECOR architecture is developed by Samsung and is based on the concept of separating the control plane and user plane of the mobile network into two different domains. The control plane is responsible for the signaling and management of the network, while the user plane handles the actual data transmission.

The eDECOR architecture provides several benefits over the traditional mobile network architecture, including reduced latency, increased throughput, improved scalability, and enhanced security. These benefits are achieved through various techniques such as network slicing, virtualization, and software-defined networking (SDN).

Network Slicing

Network slicing is a technique that enables the creation of multiple virtual networks within a single physical network infrastructure. Each virtual network, or slice, is designed to meet the specific requirements of a particular application or service. For example, a slice can be created for video streaming, another for IoT devices, and a third for mission-critical services such as emergency services.

Each slice has its own set of resources such as bandwidth, processing power, and storage, which are dynamically allocated based on the traffic demand. This ensures that each slice receives the required resources to operate optimally, without affecting the performance of other slices.

Virtualization

Virtualization is the process of creating virtual instances of a physical resource such as a server, network, or storage device. In the eDECOR architecture, virtualization is used to create virtualized network functions (VNFs) such as the virtualized evolved packet core (vEPC) and the virtualized radio access network (vRAN).

The vEPC and vRAN are software-based implementations of the traditional EPC and RAN functions, respectively. They are deployed on standard off-the-shelf servers and can be scaled up or down based on the network demand. This results in improved resource utilization and cost savings for the network operator.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

SDN is a networking paradigm that separates the control plane and data plane of a network. In the eDECOR architecture, SDN is used to provide centralized control and management of the network. The SDN controller is responsible for the management of the network resources and the configuration of the VNFs.

The SDN controller communicates with the VNFs through an open interface such as OpenFlow, enabling the VNFs to be easily programmed and configured. This results in improved network agility and flexibility, as well as faster service delivery.

Benefits of eDECOR

The eDECOR architecture provides several benefits over the traditional mobile network architecture, including:

1. Reduced Latency: The eDECOR architecture reduces the latency of the mobile network by reducing the number of network elements that need to be traversed by the data packets. This is achieved through the use of network slicing, which enables the creation of dedicated paths for the data packets, resulting in reduced latency and improved performance.
2. Increased Throughput: The eDECOR architecture enables the network operator to increase the network throughput by allocating dedicated resources to each network slice. This ensures that each slice receives the required resources to operate optimally, resulting in improved network performance and user experience.
3. Improved Scalability: The eDECOR architecture improves the scalability of the mobile network by enabling the network operator to add or remove resources as required. This is achieved through the use of virtualization, which enables the network operator to create and deploy virtualized network functions (VNFs) on standard off-the-shelf servers.
4. Enhanced Security: The eDECOR architecture enhances the security of the mobile network by providing dedicated security mechanisms for each network slice. This ensures that each slice isolated from the other slices, preventing any potential security threats from spreading throughout the network. Additionally, the use of SDN enables the network operator to quickly detect and mitigate security threats through the centralized management and control of the network.
5. Cost Savings: The eDECOR architecture enables the network operator to reduce the cost of network deployment and operation by leveraging the benefits of virtualization and SDN. The use of virtualization reduces the need for specialized hardware, while the use of SDN enables the network operator to automate and simplify network management tasks, resulting in reduced operational costs.
6. Improved Service Delivery: The eDECOR architecture enables the network operator to quickly deploy new services and applications, resulting in faster service delivery and improved customer satisfaction. The use of SDN enables the network operator to quickly and easily configure and manage the network, while the use of network slicing enables the network operator to tailor the network resources to the specific requirements of each service or application.

Deployment of eDECOR

The deployment of eDECOR requires the network operator to upgrade the existing mobile network infrastructure to support the new architecture. This includes the deployment of new hardware and software, as well as the configuration of the network elements to support network slicing, virtualization, and SDN.

The deployment of eDECOR can be done in a phased manner, starting with the deployment of a single network slice for a specific application or service. Once the initial network slice is deployed and operational, additional network slices can be added as required, resulting in a gradual migration to the eDECOR architecture.

The deployment of eDECOR also requires the network operator to work closely with the vendors and partners to ensure interoperability and compatibility with existing systems and applications. This includes the use of standard interfaces and protocols to enable seamless integration and interoperation between the different network elements.

Conclusion

eDECOR is a wireless communication network architecture that provides several benefits over the traditional mobile network architecture, including reduced latency, increased throughput, improved scalability, enhanced security, cost savings, and improved service delivery. The eDECOR architecture is based on the concept of separating the control plane and user plane of the mobile network into two different domains, and leveraging techniques such as network slicing, virtualization, and SDN to improve the performance, reliability, and security of the network. The deployment of eDECOR requires the network operator to upgrade the existing mobile network infrastructure to support the new architecture and work closely with the vendors and partners to ensure interoperability and compatibility with existing systems and applications.