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Virtual Evolved Packet Core (EPC)

The Challenge

Given increases in mobile data usage, and even more notably, the exponential growth in video traffic and VoLTE, you need to architect your evolved packet core (EPC) to not only support the growth in traffic, but also to ensure that you can deliver superior QoS at all times.

As the market evolves, so must the EPC. That evolution has to include the ability to dynamically scale up to meet traffic demands during peak congestion hours and the flexibility to instantiate new services based on real-time network conditions. At the same time, you have to ensure service availability and meet real-time performance requirements.

The Solution

Virtualizing the EPC allows you to quickly realize significant TCO savings and get new services to market faster. You can also reduce OpEx by dynamically spinning up and spinning down various resources based on network demand and capacity.

F5 solutions using BIG-IP virtual editions include virtualized GTP load balancers, policy management, and Diameter signaling solutions. F5 virtual Application Delivery Controllers (ADCs)—based on BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Virtual Edition—help you perform GTP load balancing among a group of PGWs/SGWs.

And by taking advantage of the global server load balancing (GSLB) and dynamic gateway selection functionality of BIG-IP DNS, you can monitor virtual packet gateways and only provide answers to DNS queries for active and available gateways. If a packet gateway goes down, BIG-IP DNS will distribute the traffic intelligently across only the available packet gateways, ensuring the best subscriber experience.

F5’s network functions virtualization (NFV) solutions rely on open REST-based APIs. And those APIs are interoperable with leading management and orchestration systems, providing a complete NFV ecosystem. These solutions deliver a flexible, agile, and scalable network that helps you deliver services to market faster, improve network efficiency, and reduce CapEx and OpEx.

F5 Helps You:
  • Reduce network costs.
  • Improve network architecture flexibility.
  • Deliver services faster.
  • Increase automation.
Diagram of F5’s network functions virtualization (NFV) solution