Programmability of Connectivity Control

Abstract

Network programmability and edge computing as key features of next generation communications enable innovative services. While the programmability is focused on the core network of the fifth-generation system, the edge computing moves the network intelligence to the radio access network. This paper presents a study on the programmability of connectivity control as a function of radio access network using Multi-access Edge Computing. The capability of using more than one radio access technology simultaneously enhances reliability and increases the throughput, especially in dense networks. Opening the radio access network interfaces for programmability of multi-connectivity enables analytics applications to control the device connections to multiple radio links simultaneously based on information of radio conditions, user location or specific policies. The research novelty is in opening the radio access network interfaces for edge applications to access connectivity control.