Research & standards: advanced cloud & virtualization techniques for 5G networks [Guest Editorial]

The evolution of mobile network architecture is an essential part in the development process of the fifth generation (5G) of cellular mobile systems, and that is through the incorporation of advanced cloud technologies and network function virtualization techniques. The new network architecture needs to support a wide range of high data rate applications and services, offering capacities of up to multiple gigabits per second, yet meeting extremely stringent latency and reliability requirements under a diverse variety of scenarios. Thus the automation of network control and overall system management to achieve such an ambitious set of performance targets became crucial. Significant global effort for the necessary new technologies has been initiated.