Software defined service migration through legacy service integration into 4G networks and future evolutions

With the ongoing worldwide deployment of 4G networks and consequent drop of the utilization ratio of legacy networks, network operators need a cost-effective way to flexibly operate and manage networks. The obligatory continuation of legacy services in their respective legacy networks consistently incurs OPEX. In this situation, we argue that network operators can benefit from the recent advances in SDN and NFV. This article introduces a blueprint for designing a novel network architecture that integrates legacy network services into 4G networks through SDN/NFV´s software-based characteristics. In addition, our architecture reduces time to market for employing newly emerging services without mandating any changes in 4G infrastructures.