Spectrum-less Communication by Virtualizing the Core Network of 4g Wireless Network

The efficiency of spectrum in mobile and wireless network might be achieved by exploiting the technical specification within the spectrum itself, and by introducing the new technical mechanism called network virtualization. The latter emphasises the enhancement of control and user planes of the network rather than utilise the spectrum. This research work focuses on the network virtualization, particularly on virtualizing the network elements in LTE-based core network (Evolved Packet Core – EPC). A design of network virtualization is built from the end-user to the core network, which includes all the functionality of the network elements. The EPC is assumed as the main core network system, while the 2G/3G/4G systems are as client stations. Testing, measurement and performance analysis are done by developing a testbed of cloud network in the Local Area Network where the access rate is up to 100 Mbps. Subsequently, the traffic loads of 0 Mbps, 10 Mbps, 50 Mbps, 75 Mbps, and 100 Mbps, based on TCP and UDP transport protocols, are generated into the testbed. All elements of the EPC-LTE on this testbed (i.e., HSS, MME, S-GW, P-GW and PCRF) are logically separated from one another in a cloud network. Two parameters of Quality of Service (QoS), i.e., jitter and delay, are used as performance parameters. Based on the test and measurement it is found that the highest value of jitter and delay are 26.87 ms and 6.53 ms respectively, when network is loaded with traffic at 100Mbps. From the results, it can be concluded that the network virtualization can be implemented.