BT’s journey toward a 5G Core

BT’s cloud-native Evolved Packet Core (EPC), which includes support for 5G non-standalone (NSA), was launched in 2022. As of December 2022, millions of subscribers had been migrated.

Ericsson collaborated with BT throughout this cloud-native journey, completing the transformation without a single reported service interruption.

BT’s new core network – the dual-mode 5G Core – is designed to support 5G SA and the new services BT aims to launch over the coming years, from new network capabilities to network slicing and network exposure APIs.

Agile cloud-native operations have been a main driver and the new solution- includes software probes, firewalls and optimization tools, consolidated into the cloud-native user plane.

• Cloud-native transformation while maintaining its reputation for network leadership in UK ​
• Move from physical to cloud-native architecture delivering on additional capacity, efficiency, security compliance, regular software drops and automation  ​
• Collapse multiple network capabilities to increase agility and scalability​
• Take advantage of network exposure APIs and plan for 5G standalone services

Ericsson enabled BT’s cloud-native transformation through the dual-mode 5G Core. This cloud-native solution combines EPC and 5G Core network functions into a common platform, supporting both 4G and 5G.

BT has millions of customers still using 4G, so having a single core that can cope with both was important. Within Ericsson’s Packet Core Gateway, as part of the dual-mode 5G Core, BT was able to consolidate a number of functions including firewall, software probes and network address translation (NAT), as well as utilize additional functions for TCP optimization.  

Delivering high-quality services is absolutely vital for BT. Using Ericsson Expert Analytics, together with the built-in software probes, made it possible to see exactly what was happening to each subscriber and to the network.

Ericsson solutions delpoyed in BT’s cloud-native core network:

Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core: Combining EPC and 5G Core network functions into a common cloud-native platform for efficient TCO and migration to 5G, including products such as:

• Ericsson Packet Core Gateway with value added functions including traffic and video optimization, NAT and built-in software probes as well as Packet Core Firewall, powered by A10 Networks, for integrated user plane and security functions in a single CNF
• Ericsson Packet Core Controller with access, session, mobility and gateway control functions and built-in software probes to support the new 5G use cases

Ericsson Expert Analytics and built-in software probes: A cloud-native solution that performs customer-centric monitoring and identifies and troubleshoots issues

Ericsson Automated Acceptance Tests: Performs automated testing during the software acceptance phase of the CI/CD pipeline

Ericsson Cloud Container Distribution: Manages and orchestrates all containerized applications

Ericsson Orchestrator: A product incorporating Cloud Manager and Evolved VNF Manager, providing end-to-end cloud orchestration capabilities

Ericsson Network Manager: Provides a uniform operational environment on a cloud-ready software platform, and delivers close to zero downtime during software upgrades

Network design and deployment services: Supporting BT to produce configuration files, initial testing and deployment so BT can further test features on an end-to-end basis