Wireless Network Virtualization With SDN and C-RAN for 5G Networks: Requirements, Opportunities, and Challenges
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Wireless network virtualization (WNV) has drawn attention from the researchers ranging from academia to industry as one of the significant technologies in the cellular network communication. It is considered as a pioneer to achieve effective resource utilization with decreased operating expenses and capital expenses by decoupling the networks functionalities of coexisting virtual networks. It facilitates fast deployment of new services and novel technologies. WNV paradigm is in the early stages, and there is a large room for the research community to develop new architectures, systems, and applications. The availability of software-defined networking (SDN) and cloud/centralized radio access network (C-RAN) steers up the hope for the WNV realization. This paper surveys WNV along with the recent developments in SDN and C-RAN technologies. Based on these technologies and WNV concepts, we identify the requirements and opportunities of future cellular networks. We then propose a general architectural framework for the WNV based on SDN. In-depth discussion of challenges and research issues as well as promising approaches for future networks communication improvements are also proposed. Finally, we give several promising candidates of future network services for residential customers and business customers.
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Blockchain can simplify network virtualization in 5G networks with high degrees of security.
“Besides, blockchain can simplify the network virtualization in 5G networks with high degrees of security [118], [119].”
From Blockchain for 5G and beyond networks: A state of the art survey (2020) · cites this paper as [118]
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- Authors
- Kitindi, E. J., Fu, S., Jia, Y., Kabir, A., & Wang, Y.
- Affiliations
- Chongqing University (CN)
- Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (CN)
- Venue
- IEEE Access
- Published
- 2017
- Volume
- 5
- Pages
- 19099-19115
- ISSN
- 2169-3536 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2752166613
- Cited by
- 98
- References
- 81
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 10.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- IEEE Access (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Scientific Research Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China-China Mobile (MCM20150102)
- Program for Innovation Team Building at colleges and universities in Chongqing, China (CXTDX201601006)
- Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Software-Defined Networks and 5G
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Media Technology › Telecommunications and Broadcasting Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Cognitive Radio Networks and Spectrum Sensing
- Keywords
- wireless network virtualization, software-defined networking, centralized radio access network, 5G, cellular network architecture, network function virtualization, network resource utilization, network service deployment
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