Understanding NFV
Network Functional Virtualization (NFV) borrows several concepts from enterprise IT to utilize server virtualization. This alleviates the need for custom hardware systems and appliances for various network functionalities. The goal of NFV is to decouple the hardware from the software stack for 5G. This reduces the dependence on custom-built hardware. In Figure 12.1, we show the high-level 5G core architecture to illustrate the relationship between the different concepts covered in this chapter.
NFV provides a great deal of flexibility to network operators to improve and enhance the capabilities of their network. This includes the ability to adopt virtualization for software applications. This allows independence from custom-built and expensive hardware in the form of specific physical appliances as part of the main network architecture. Companies such as Ericsson are driving the thought leadership around NFV: https://www.ericsson.com/en/nfv.
The adoption of...
