Reliable Broadcasting in 5G NFV-Based Networks

The emerging 5G technology will support high data rates with low latency and high levels of reliability. To satisfy these requirements, mobile operators have deployed enhancements to LTE networks in a move toward the development of future 5G networks. One of these enhancements is the LTE-broadcasting service. Another enhancement is the employment of network functions virtualization, which will provide elasticity of resources, scalability, and flexibility. In a virtualized LTE-broadcasting network, the main components of the LTE-broadcasting service will be implemented as VNFs. This article introduces a scheme to determine the number of redundant VNF components necessary to satisfy the reliability requirements of broadcasting services in 5G networks. A series-parallel redundant model determines the optimum number of virtual components instantiated to achieve a required service reliability level. The model is compared to a parallel-series one and shown to achieve greater effectiveness, achieving five nines reliability and promoting low end-to-end delay.