Advanced: Control and User Plane Separation of EPC nodes (CUPS)

This video looks at Control and User Plane Separation of EPC nodes (CUPS) which was completed by 3GPP as part of Release 14 specifications and is set to be a key core network feature for many operators.
CUPS provides the architecture enhancements for the separation of functionality in the Evolved Packet Core’s SGW, PGW and TDF. This enables flexible network deployment and operation, by distributed or centralized deployment and the independent scaling between control plane and user plane functions - while not affecting the functionality of the existing nodes subject to this split.
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[@arunkumarboddu]

Very simplified way of explaining. Liked it

[@SharpKnife523]

thanks for making a simple video for a complex topic.

[@sureshjain4676]

crisp and clear

[@smartyngud]

Thanks for explaining CUPS so easily !!

[@3G4G5G]

Glad you liked it.

[@morbiusprime2043]

Great explanation, thank you.

[@rennyindia1]

Thanks a lot for the explanation.

[@andystickel9330]

great overview thank you!

[@nagendrenkrishnamoorthy195]

Thanks a lot and nice presentation. :)

[@soubhagyapanigrahi2033]

thank you for this intro

[@slhzidi]

Great introduction!

[@3G4G5G]

Thanks.

[@ariefprasetyawan125]

It would be better if there is a summary in last slide like in video Benginner: 5G spectrum - Long version

[@hmidh]

Nice video, thanks!
So if I understand well, 4G EPC CUPS architecture was procusor on splitting CP and UP (at least in the core) before 5G .. But I have 3 questions:
1/ Does the splitting between BBU and RRU in a Cloud RAN architecture can be understood as well as a kind of UP/CP separation applied for the backhaul or both RRU and BBU are still integrated CP/UP nodes?
2/ In practice (CUPS compliant core deployment), does SGW-C and SGW-U correspond to two different equipment ? how telecom vendors market it in their catalogue ?
3/ Is it mandatory for an operator to migrate its legacy EPC (before CUPS) to CUPS architecture to be able to implement NSA 5G network ?
thanks.

[@3G4G5G]

Hi, nice and difficult questions. For 1, we suggest you watch Prof. Andy Sutton's video here: www.3g4g.co.uk/5G/5Gtech_video0015.html. With regards to 2, all vendors are moving to virtualized architecture. The new entities will be VNFs in the virtualized architecture. Vendors will sell it as a future-proofed core architecture. With regards to 3, its not mandatory but may help, especially with network slicing. Having said that, we think for a proper end-to-end slicing, 5G core will be needed.

[@hmidh]

Thanks for your helpful reply. Regarding question 2: I understand the point of instantiating for instance SGW-U/SGW-C as VNFs instead of physical dedicated equipment as used to be until now, however, I want to grasp how it will come up concretly, I mean: Currently SGW is a dedicated locked-vendor equipment, SGW-U, SGW-C will be sold as software pieces (code script that can be run on any commodity server) ? Do you have a link for vendors proposing these VNFs to see how it may look like "concretly"?

[@3G4G5G]

Afraid not. This kind of information is not easily available online. For most big vendors they do not provide any details of their implementation at all.

[@vaibhavverma7556]

Thanks. Very useful.
One question (may be silly)
Do we have any references/figures which can predict/indicate how good is user experience after CUPS!!
The only benefits as per USER (only) i feel that PGW which is closer to user may be selected hence better user experience.
Request if you can complete me
Thanks!!

[@3G4G5G]

That is correct. One of the outcomes of CUPS is improved user experience but that is not all. Its also helpful for the scaling of network. This started with LTE but CUPS takes it to a level further.
Not sure how many commercial networks has this already in place but once its there, I am sure we will hear a lot more about it.

[@vaibhavverma7556]

Thanks for your reply
Yes
I understand CUPS benefits a core level like scaling, upgrade independency etc however need to know more about for user/user experience.

[@3G4G5G]

We wont know about the user experience until CUPS is officially rolled out in commercial networks and the operators inform that its available. We just know the theory at present.