Demystifying Multi-Domain Service Orchestration (MDSO) and its Role in Enabling 5G Services

In the current year, we are witnessing the tangible benefits that 5G technology can bring to society, particularly in countries where it has been deployed. According to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), 249 operators across 97 countries/territories have successfully launched commercial 5G services that comply with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, either in mobile or fixed wireless access.

Furthermore, the GSM Association (GSMA) has reported an increase in mobile Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) following the introduction of 5G services. This growth highlights the positive impact that 5G has on the telecommunications industry.

Amidst this expansion and progress, the role of multi-domain service orchestration (MDSO) has become increasingly significant for Communication Service Providers (CSPs). In this blog, we will delve into the capabilities and benefits that MDSO offers in the realm of 5G networks and discuss its potential to shape the future of telecommunications.

MDSO and 5G

Multi-domain service orchestration refers to managing and coordinating services across multiple network domains in a telecommunications network. It involves integrating and controlling resources, technologies, and services across various domains to deliver end-to-end service delivery.

In the context of 5G, multi-domain service orchestration is crucial due to the complex and diverse nature of 5G networks. To ensure the 5G promise, implementing multi-domain service automation becomes vital for service providers. MDSO facilitates increased operational efficiency by eliminating manual tasks associated with service design, ordering, fulfillment, and assurance. 

MDSO helps automate service provisioning, configuration, and management across multiple domains in a 5G network. It includes areas such as the radio access network (RAN), the transport network, and the core network. 
 

Reasons Why MDSO is needed in 5G

End-to-End Service Provisioning

5G networks aim to provide comprehensive end-to-end services that span multiple domains, including the radio access network (RAN), core network, transport network, and cloud infrastructure. Multi-domain service orchestration ensures seamless provisioning and coordination of resources across these domains to deliver the desired services to users.

Network Slicing

5G introduces the concept of network slicing, where a single physical network infrastructure is divided into multiple logical networks, known as slices, to cater to different service requirements. Each network slice may traverse numerous domains. Multi-domain service orchestration plays a vital role in creating, managing, and orchestrating network slices across other areas, enabling customization of network resources and services based on specific use cases.

Resource Optimization

5G networks involve diverse resources distributed across multiple domains. Efficient utilization and optimization of these resources are essential to meet the varying demands of different services and applications. Multi-domain service orchestration facilitates dynamic allocation and efficient utilization of network resources across domains, ensuring optimal performance and resource efficiency.

Quality of Service (QoS) and Service Level Agreement (SLA) Management

5G networks support various applications with varying QoS requirements. Multi-domain service orchestration enables adequate QoS and SLA management by coordinating and controlling resources across domains. It ensures that the required QoS parameters and SLAs are followed throughout the service delivery process.

MDSO Example

Here is an example with 5G: 

A 5G network operator wants to deploy a new service that provides customers with augmented reality (AR) capabilities. The service will require using the RAN, the transport network, and the core network.

Using MDSO, the network operator can automate service provisioning, configuration, and management across all three domains. It will allow the operator to deploy the service and help ensure it is always available and performing as expected quickly and easily.

Below are some steps involved in the MDSO process will be:

• The network operator defines the service requirements. It includes the type of service, the target users, and the performance requirements.
• The MDSO platform generates a service blueprint. The blueprint defines the steps in provisioning, configuring, and managing the service across all three domains.
• The MDSO platform executes the service blueprint. It automates the provisioning, configuration, and management of the service.
• The MDSO platform monitors the service. It ensures that the service is always available and performing as expected.

It is just one example of how MDSO can be used in 5G networks. MDSO can deploy various services, including virtual reality (VR), cloud gaming, and industrial automation.

The Future of MDSO

The future trends of multi-domain service orchestration in the next generation of the Internet, often referred to as Internet 6.0 or Future Internet, are likely to revolve around the following key aspects:

Enhanced Interoperability

Multi-domain service orchestration will improve interoperability between domains and networks. The orchestration frameworks must support seamless integration and coordination of services across diverse technology domains, including 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, edge computing, and beyond.

Intelligent Automation

The next generation of multi-domain service orchestration will leverage advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and automation to enable intelligent decision-making and automate complex service orchestration tasks. It includes automated network slicing, dynamic resource allocation, predictive analytics for optimized service provisioning, and self-healing capabilities for fault resolution.

Intent-based Networking

Multi-domain service orchestration will evolve towards intent-based networking, where operators can define high-level service intent or policies, and the orchestration system automatically translates them into concrete network configurations across multiple domains. This approach simplifies service management, reduces manual configurations, and enables more agile and flexible service provisioning.

Conclusion

To summarize, MDSO in 5G is necessary to enable seamless service provisioning, efficient resource utilization, network slicing, and adequate quality of service and SLA management across the diverse domains of the 5G network architecture. 

The future of MDSO is bright. As networks become more complex and the demand for new and innovative services grows, the need for MDSO will become even more critical. The use of AI, ML, cloud computing, and open standards are likely to play a significant role in the future of MDSO.