Nokia multi-access broadband CUPS solution

The Nokia cloud-based converged broadband CUPS architecture enhances the triple play service delivery architecture (TPSDA). The Nokia MAG-c implements both the fixed access and fixed wireless access (FWA) CP functions. The Nokia SR OS-based MAG-u implements both the fixed access and FWA UP functions.

Evolution of the BNG

The Nokia SR OS TPSDA originated as a BNG providing traditional broadband services such as high-speed Internet (HSI), voice over IP (VoIP), IPTV, wholesale/retail, and network address translation (NAT).

Over the years, the broadband access demand evolved beyond traditional wireline access and into wireless access. The Nokia BNG evolved to support the Wi-Fi gateway function, the FWA function, and the hybrid access gateway (HAG) function.

Driven by the market, the BNG technology evolved further into a CUPS architecture. The Nokia multi-access broadband CUPS solution disaggregates the Nokia BNG and all its functions. The Nokia MAG-c implements the CP function, and the Nokia MAG-u implements the UP function to handle the datapath forwarding of the broadband wireline and the FWA functions. Operators can select the best type of UP that fits the targeted applications:
  • Virtualized Service Routers (VSRs)
  • physical Service Routers (SRs)
  • a combination of both

Cloud-based MAG-c architecture

The following figure shows the overall Nokia multi-access CUPS architecture, with the following virtualized network functions (VNFs) of the MAG-c:

  • operation and maintenance virtual machine (OAM-VM) – management interface for the MAG-c configuration
  • database virtual machine (DB-VM) – common storage for all subscriber session state
  • session management virtual machine (SM-VM) – subscriber management function and processing
  • load balancing virtual machine (LB-VM) – load distribution to various SM-VMs
Figure 1. The cloud-based MAG-c architecture

See the MAG-c Installation Guide for more information about the MAG-c architecture and installation.

MAG-u overview

The Nokia SR OS-based MAG user plane (MAG-u) acts as the UP for the MAG-c. Both the VSR and the SR platforms support the MAG-u functions. The Nokia MAG-u supports the following functions when acting as a UP:

  • BNG UP function
  • 5G UP function (UPF) for 5G FWA
  • combined SGW-U + PGW-U for 4G FWA
All SR OS platforms can simultaneously function as a UP and as a standalone BNG. In standalone BNG mode, all SR OS TPSDA features are supported. The following enhanced subscriber management (ESM) features are key examples deployed today:
  • broadband subscriber management services, IP over Ethernet (IPoE), point-to-point protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), LAC, and LNS
  • FWA
  • NAT
  • multicast
  • public Wi-Fi
  • HAG