Description
Multi-protocol 4G and 5G signaling for 5G transition
BIG-IP Next SPK is uniquely designed to align with Kubernetes design patterns. It acts as a service proxy to provide a “single pane of glass” for ingress and egress networking and security for the Kubernetes cluster to the outside world. It simplifies the service provider architecture, integrating smoothly with the broader network and security policies, leading to lower complexity and operational cost.
- Integrates Kubernetes with the Wider Service Provider Network - Kubernetes does not provide a central point for network traffic ingress/egress and ignores egress traffic. BIG-IP Next SPK aligns with Kubernetes design patterns and avoids increased OpEx spend.
- Enables 4G Protocols on a 5G Network - Service provider networks utilize multiple protocols (Diameter, SIP, GTP, SCTP, etc.) that are not supported by Kubernetes but are critical to transition from 4G to 5G.
- Provides a Single Point of Networking for Kubernetes Traffic - BIG-IP Next SPK brings critical carrier-grade capabilities to a Kubernetes environment. It enables 4G and 5G traffic management at North/South container ingress into the 5G core.
5G cloud-native infrastructure—core and edge deployments
BIG-IP Next SPK enables a 5G Core solution which paves the way for robust 5G consumer and enterprise solutions. New service-based architecture use cases like network slicing and MEC enable dynamic allocation of resources for specific customers and specific applications. BIG-IP Next SPK provides a North/South traffic ingress while Aspen Mesh provides a complementary solution for East/West traffic flowing within Kubernetes clusters.
- Scaling the Core, Edge, and Far Edge - As a container-based solution, BIG-IP Next SPK can scale from a small number of very large cell sites in the core to a large number of smaller cell sites at the edge and far edge.
- Cloud-Native for New Levels of Flexibility - By building the 5G core with a cloud-native architecture, service providers will be able to achieve new levels of operational automation, flexibility, and adaptability.
- Interoperates with Aspen Mesh - Aspen Mesh provides observability, security, and control for the traffic flowing within and between Kubernetes clusters and ensures that containers run efficiently across thousands of edge sites.
Cloud infrastructure security and visibility
Security needs to be deployed at all layers and work together with new clusters when introducing new technology. It is paramount for all the new points of exposure in the 5G network, which requires new, broader automation, visibility, and management functions.
- Ingress Security - BIG-IP Next SPK enables security services applied at ingress such as signaling firewalls.
- Topology Security - Topology hiding at ingress obscures the internal structure within the cluster.
- Ingress Traffic Visibility - Per-subscriber traffic visibility at ingress allows traceability for compliance tracking and billing purposes.