SDN Enhanced Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) for E2E Mobility and QoS Management

Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) is a key enabler of the fifth-generation (5G) mobile cellular networks. MEC enables Ultra-reliable and Low-latency Communications (URLLC) by bringing the data and computational resources closer to the mobile users. As 5G deployments commence in earnest, researchers have turned their attention to various aspects of edge computing in an effort to leverage the new capabilities offered by 5G. In this paper, we propose the integration of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and cloud-native virtualization techniques, such as containers, with the MEC architecture, to facilitate the orchestration and management of Mobile Edge Hosts (MEH). The proposed architecture focuses on the end-to-end mobility support required to maintain service continuity when mobile users relocate from one MEH to another. SDN is proposed as a reliable, programmatic paradigm to provide mobile edge orchestration and dynamic configuration of the underlying network for improved service continuity and quality of experience. The proposed architecture is validated through vehicle-to-everything simulations that highlight the advantage of the centralized network intelligence and the modularity and portability offered by SDN and containers.