Abstract
The telecom community is during the last years witnessing a paradigm shift towards the virtualisation/ “softwarisation” of the network infrastructure, mostly driven by the concepts of software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualisation (NFV). At the same time, satellite telecommunication technologies, although rapidly advancing in various fields, have not so far adequately followed this trend. The paper investigates the applicability of SDN and NFV technologies to satcom platforms and determines the benefits and the challenges associated with the integration of satellite infrastructures into future software-based networks. To that end, it identifies specific use cases which clearly benefit from the softwarisation of the satcom network and proposes a functional architecture for federated satellite-terrestrial software-based networks. The architecture is implemented in a lab environment which is used to validate some of the proposed use cases. Furthermore, a techno-economic analysis is conducted, which presents clear economic benefits via the introduction of SDN and NFV in the satcom ecosystem.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ESA ARTES 1 CloudSat—scenarios for integration of satellite components in future networks, https://artes.esa.int/projects/cloudsat.
Open Networking Foundation, https://www.opennetworking.org.
OpenDaylight network controller, http://www.opendaylight.org.
OpenNaaS—open platform for network-as-a-service, http://opennaas.org.
ONOS—A new carrier-grade SDN network operating system designed for high availability, performance, scale-out, http://onosproject.org/.
OpenStack Cloud Operating System, http://www.openstack.org.
OpenMANO, http://www.tid.es/long-term-innovation/network-innovation/telefonica-nfv-reference-lab/openmano.
OPNFV, The Open Platform for NFV, http://www.opnfv.org.
Bernardos, C. J., de la Oliva, A., Serrano, P., Banchs, A., Contreras, L. M., Jin, H., et al. (2014). An architecture for software defined wireless networking. IEEE Wireless Communication Magazine, 21(3), 52–61.
China Mobile Research Institute (2011). C-RAN: The road towards green RAN, White Paper, ver. 2.5.
ETSI GS NFV 002. Network functions virtualisation (NFV): Architectural framework, Ver. 1.1.1. http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/nfv/001_099/002/01.01.01_60/gs_nfv002v010101p.pdf.
FP7 OFELIA project. OpenFlow in Europe: Linking infrastructure and applications, http://www.fp7-ofelia.eu/.
AGC Research (2013). Business cases for Brocade software-defined networking use cases. http://acgcc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BUSINESS-CASES-FOR-BROCADE-SOFTWARE-DEFINED-NETWORKING-USE-CASES.pdf.
Jain, S. et al. (2013). B4: Experience with a globally-deployed software-defined WAN. In Proceeding of ACM SIGCOMM ’13, August 12-16.
ETSI GS NFV 001 (2013). Network functions virtualisation (NFV): Use cases, Ver 1.1.1. http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/NFV-INF/001_099/001/01.01.01_60/gs_NFV-INF001v010101p.pdf.
ETSI Mobile Edge Computing White Paper. http://portal.etsi.org/Portals/0/TBpages/MEC/Docs/Mobile-edge_Computing_-_Introductory_Technical_White_Paper_V1%2018-09-14.pdf.
FP7 Mobile Cloud Networking project, http://www.mobile-cloud-networking.eu/.
Bertaux, L., Medjiah, S., Berthou, P., Abdellatif, S., Hakiri, A. & Gelard P. (2015) Software defined networking and virtualization for broadband satellite networks. In IEEE Communications Magazine, March 2015.
Ferrus, R., Koumaras, H., Sallent, O., Agapiou, G., Rasheed, T., Kourtis, M.-A., et al. (2015). SDN/NFV-enabled satellite communications networks: Opportunities, scenarios and challenges. Physical Communication, 18, 95–112.
FP7 T-NOVA project. Network functions as-a-service over virtualised infrastructures, http://www.t-nova.eu.
G. Xilouris (Ed.) et al. D2.22: Overall system architecture and interfaces, T-NOVA project deliverable, http://www.t-nova.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/TNOVA_D2.22_Overall_System_Architecture_and_Interfaces_v1.0.pdf.
ETSI GS NFV 003 (2013). Terminology for main concepts in NFV, ver 1.1.1. http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/NFV/001_099/003/01.02.01_60/gs_NFV003v010201p.pdf.
Open vSwitch, Production Quality, Multilayer Open Virtual Switch, http://openvswitch.org/.
OpenSAND satellite network emulator, http://opensand.org/.
Hewlett-Packard white paper (2014). The reality of cost reduction. https://www.hpe.com/h20195/V2/getpdf.aspx/4AA5-2160ENW.pdf?ver=Rev%201.
Alcatel-Lucent white paper (2014). Business case for moving DNS to the cloud. http://www.tmcnet.com/tmc/whitepapers/documents/whitepapers/2014/10349-business-case-moving-dns-the-cloud.pdf.
ACG Research (2015). Business Case for a Common NFV Platform. http://acgcc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Business-Case-for-a-Common-NFV-Platform_ACG.pdf.
Acknowledgements
This work has been performed under the European Space Agency ARTES 1 project CloudSat (“Scenarios for integration of Satellite Components in Future Networks”—ESA/ESTEC Contr. No.: 4000110995/14/NL/AD). The view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency. The authors would like to thank Mrs. Maria Guta (ESA) for her guidance and support throughout the whole study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gardikis, G., Koumaras, H., Sakkas, C. et al. Towards SDN/NFV-enabled satellite networks. Telecommun Syst 66, 615–628 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235-017-0309-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235-017-0309-0