As the technology around us changes, having access to a high-speed network is no longer enough. Your network functions must also be scalable, agile, and resilient. That way, your business can easily adapt to ever-changing market conditions and different use cases.
By relying on Titan.ium, companies are able to tap into the full potential of modern 5G core networks. Instead of having to build pricey infrastructure, B2C and B2B brands can utilize various network functions with minimal initial investment. Furthermore, cloud native applications give you unparalleled flexibility in daily operations.
In this article, we'll explain the benefits and use cases for cloud native 5G architecture. Specifically, we will explain how the Titan.ium platform addresses various business challenges, and what to expect from our service-based architecture, SBA.
From Legacy Systems to Cloud-Native Transformation
In the past, companies would develop their in-house systems over a long period, sometimes spanning 10 years or more. They would invest enormous sums of money into a monolithic network architecture and technical documentation, both of which required constant updates.
While this concept worked for 2G, 3G, and even 4G, businesses are now looking to modernize their core network architecture at a minimal cost. By building or buying a cloud native 5G network, companies no longer have to rely on massive hardware-focused systems. They can virtualize all their operational processes, thus reducing maintenance costs and the need for extra staff.
For example, Titan.ium's relies on interGENerational transformation, where an operator has the choice of running both legacy and 5G services on a cloud-based infrastructure. Users can tap into a wide variety of applications, such as Security Edge Protection Proxy, Network Slice Selection Function, and Service Communication Proxy.
The biggest advantage of cloud-native infrastructure is the fact that it utilizes container orchestration. With these containers, operators are able to leverage numerous functions such as compute and memory resource control, traditional and web-scale networking, and self-healing.
What is 5G Cloud-Native Architecture?
We use the term 5G cloud-native architecture when talking about the design of modern 5G networks. Unlike the past mobile networks, 5G relies on the cloud to simplify data storage and deployment. These systems are highly flexible and scalable, making them ideal for different industries and use cases.
5G SA core is easier to deploy while also significantly reducing the costs otherwise associated with 4G solutions. The key aspects of 5G networks include:
- Microservices-based design
- Containerization (e.g., Kubernetes-native)
- Continuous integration/deployment (CI/CD)
- Stateless functions
- API-driven service communication (SBA)
As one of the most sophisticated service providers on the market, Titan.ium offers a cloud-based deployment across various private and public clouds. The platform automatically scales according to your business needs, ensuring that you never have to overpay for the service.
Our company rolls out constant updates, which enhance resilience while also offering a combination of different 5G-related services. Through continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), we make sure our solutions are on the same or higher level as our competitors.
Core Components of Titan.ium’s Cloud-Native 5G Core
Our solution comes with numerous core components that ensure the network's high performance and flexibility:
- - Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP)
The main purpose of Security Edge Protection Proxy is to safeguard signaling traffic between MNOs (Mobile Network Operators). Besides providing top-tier safety, it ensures that the network roaming is done according to the latest standards. Among other things, SEPP provides message screening, mTLS, and policy-based routing.
- - Service Communication Proxy (SCP)
SCP, or Service Communication Proxy, is a vital part of 5G service-based architecture. It allows communication between different network functions, providing benefits such as fault management, load balancing, and simpler inter-vendor integration. Another major perk of SCP is that it allows operators to monitor and analyze users' behavior within a network.
- - Network Repository Function (NRF)
The main advantage of NRF is the fact that it stores data about all network functions. Basically, the Network Repository Function works as a service discovery engine that allows roaming-aware and hierarchical deployment. Similar to SCP, NRF allows communication between different network functions.
- - Binding Support Function (BSF)
The main role of the Binding Support Function is to help network functions find and access PCF (Policy Control Functions) for particular PDU (Packet Data Units). It basically allows NFs to determine whether a PCF has charging and policy information for a specific user session. As such, BSF provides support for converged networks while ensuring high scaling and flexibility.
- - Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF)
Titan.ium platform comes with the NSSF, or Network Slice Selection Function. As the name implies, NSSF's main role is to handle different slices for user equipment. It assigns services and devices to specific slices while taking into account GUI and REST provisioning. Through network slicing, our platform allows operators to customize their services according to their unique requirements.
Business and Technical Benefits
Aside from being much faster and reliable, 5G offers numerous enticing advantages to businesses:
- Elastic Scaling: Our platform is able to auto-scale microservices by assessing the current traffic load. The platform adapts to your needs, fine-tuning usage and prices.
- Reduced Time-to-Market: The CI/CD methodology allows you to quickly roll out new features. By delivering products faster to the market, companies are able to gain a massive competitive advantage and enhance their profits.
- Built-in Security: Titan.ium offers advanced security that features message filtering, encryption, OAuth2, and mutual TLS. This allows you to circumvent the most common security challenges and protect both your data and your users.
- Interoperability: Titan.ium’s interGENerational framework enables operators to seamlessly integrate legacy networks with modern, 5G solutions. By doing so, you're able to slowly transition to 5G without interfering with your current operations.
- Multi-Cloud Flexibility: Our 5G solution can be deployed on various cloud types, including public, private, edge, and hybrid clouds.
Use Cases
Titan.ium platform can be used by various businesses and in different situations, including:
- Our platform is ideal for telecom operators that want to launch 5G SA core. It offers support for modern 5G services and enhanced mobile broadband. With it, telecom operators can introduce AR/VR gaming, metaverse applications, on-demand, QoS, industrial control, and more.
- If you're a business looking to establish a private network, Titan.ium will ensure high reliability and low latency. This makes it ideal for mission-critical environments. Our solution is often used by manufacturers who want to enhance quality control and introduce a high degree of automation. It is also an excellent choice for logistics and warehousing businesses, as well as healthcare providers.
- We can help you enhance your network security through end-to-end encryption, advanced 5G signaling protocols, and various tools. Titan.ium offers real-time analytics and threat detection. People in your network will enjoy complete protection of their user identity, location, and session data.
- Through network slicing, users are able to create numerous virtual networks with different focuses. For example, companies can use the technology for industrial IoT, smart cities, vehicle-to-everything, and other applications.
Challenges and How Titan.ium Solves Them
When integrating a 5G network with your legacy architecture, there are a lot of challenges you must worry about. Luckily, Titan.ium is able to address most of your concerns with ease:
- Complexity of migration: Titan.ium offers a high degree of backward compatibility, making it ideal for companies currently using 4G LTE. The platform further tackles migrations with modular, containerized network functions.
- Security risks: Our solution is able to tackle modern security risks through certificate automation, encryption, and screening. Among other things, the platform ensures you're company is always compliant with the latest regulations.
- Multi-vendor orchestration: 5G networks are rather complex, relying on components from numerous providers. Titan.ium is able to resolve this problem by relying on flexible control-plane architecture and interfaces.
Relying on 5G cloud-native architecture can significantly reduce your network costs. It allows you to place your entire network online and rely on software instead of hardware. Not having to maintain expensive servers will free up your company resources for other, more meaningful investments.
With our platform, you get an agile and scalable product tailor-made for modern telecommunications. Aside from being highly reliable, our platform offers high speed and security. The great news is that we're constantly updating our solutions, allowing your business to benefit from the latest technological innovations.
If you wish to modernize your 5G infrastructure, contact Titan.ium today. Our team of IT experts will provide all the technical specifications and other details regarding the product.