An overview of a distributed post-5G network architecture within the EU SLICES-RI research Infrastructure

We provide an overview of a blueprint for a disaggregated real-time post-5G network architecture that can be deployed on commodity networking and computing equipment. This activity is part of the European SLICES-RI research infrastructure and constitutes a distributed experimental post-5G playground for academic research purposes to be deployed across several EU countries. The blueprint is meant to be reproducible and to evolve in a collaborative manner. It makes use of open-source solutions such as SD-Fabric, Aether, OpenAirInterface, Nephio and others. The tutorial focuses on key networking components such as software-defined edge fabric, P4-based switching implementing the 5G user-plane function (UPF), cloud-native 5G radio-access (RAN) and core network functions (5GC), O-RAN near real-time RAN intelligent controllers (nRT-RIC), O-RAN Open-fronthaul interfaces and multicluster orchestration solutions. The tutorial will demonstrate live deployment and operation of a radio-edge site in Sophia Antipolis, France making use of some of the above technologies.