5G-Serv: Decoupling User Control and Network Control in the 3GPP 5G Network

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) network employs Software Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm allowing for a clear separation of control and data plane functionalities. However, the control plane in a 5G network not only performs network control tasks involving control and management of data plane functions but is also responsible for executing UE-specific control tasks. We think these two tasks are independent of each other and present 5G-Serv, a new architecture for 5G and beyond mobile networks. The paper presents a preliminary analysis and evaluation of the proposed architecture through flow diagrams. As demonstrated, 5G-Serv simplifies the information flow in the 5G network and enhances its modularity and flexibility. The architecture may also be better aligned with the standard SDN paradigm vis-a-vis the 3GPP architecture.