Contributions to the Virtualization of the BNG

Abstract

The Border Network Gateway (BNG) assumes a pivotal role within the telecommunications network operator domain, particularly in broadband access services, by establishing and managing subscribers’ connections. It serves as a crucial component, being responsible for various essential services that allow subscribers’ connections and help optimizing infrastructure resources, including enforcing QoS policies and implementing Access Control Lists to safeguard against unauthorized access. Similarly to other elements within the operators’ infrastructure, the BNG has faced escalating challenges due to the surge in bandwidth demand, rapid subscriber growth, and the introduction of novel services with unique requirements. As a single point of failure for subscriber-operator access, it becomes crucial to enhance management flexibility, simplify the device, and improve overall resilience. Consequently, there has been a growing interest among operators in virtualizing the BNG, following a trajectory which is similar to the virtualization of other telecommunications networks devices, such as the residential gateway. This paper examines the case for virtualizing the BNG, starting with an analysis of the underlying motivations driving this virtualization effort. Next, it provides an overview of the State-of-Art, highlighting the current proposals and advances related with the Virtual Border Network Gateway (vBNG) concept. Furthermore, it proposes a reference vBNG architecture, also exploring the seamless integration with a virtual Customers’ Premise Equipment infrastructure. Finally, a practical Proof-of-Concept is presented and used to assess the feasibility of the vBNG concept.

Keywords

• Border network gateway virtualization
• broadband networks
• network function virtualization
• software defined networks
• telecommunications network operator