Private LTE/5G ICN Akraino Blueprint

As one of the main contributors, I'm thrilled to state that the Private LTE/5G Integrated Cloud Native NFV/App Stack blueprint in the Linux Foundation Edge Akraino project got approved today.

Given the opening up of unlicensed/licensed private spectrum all around the world (e.g. CBRS in the US), Private LTE/5G promises to be very exciting market. Six end users (Airbus, Globe, Orange, Tata Communications, T-Mobile, and Verizon), a number of vendors (such as us), and individuals are collaborating on this blueprint demo which  will be created in a completely open manner and will contain, to the degree possible, open source components.

The key components of this blueprint are:

• NFVI hardware: Standard server, switch, storage components
• NFVI software: Kubernetes with OVN (SDN), Virtlet (to run VMs), Multus (for multiple CNI), Istio, and SD-EWAN (to connect an app across clouds). A main component in the NFVI software will also be an open source 5G UPF CNF.
• Orchestrator: ONAP with AF integration, OpenNESS
• Workloads (CNFs): Facebook Magma for vEPC, TIP OCN and Polaris for 5GC
• Workloads (CNAs): We are starting with the applications in the original ICN blueprint, viz. 360° video, EdgeX Foundry, video AI/ML. However, we might change things around to collaborate with other Akraino blueprints such as the 5G MEC blueprint that is working on cloud gaming, HD video, and live broadcasting.

We will first start with Private LTE over CBRS but then quickly move over to Private 5G and edge computing.

As an open source effort, we could always use more help, Please join us if this is interesting!