CNFs and VNFs in Cellular Telephony: Pre and Post COVID-19 Analysis (RAN + Packet Core)

1.1 The CNF-VNF Rivalry
1.2 The Umbilical Cord Between CNFs and VNFs
1.3 Why will CNFs Outpace VNFs?
1.4 Cautionary Note for CNFs
1.5 Report Organization and Market Forecast Taxonomy

2.1 VNF -The Original
2.1.1 History and Progression
2.1.2 NFV architecture
2.1.2.1 VNFi/NFVi
2.1.2.2 VNFs
2.1.2.3 MANO
2.2 CNF – The Inheritor
2.2.1 What are Containers?
2.2.2 Microservices
2.2.3 Container Morphology
2.2.3.1 Provisioning and Run-time Management Block
2.2.3.1.1 Docker Engine
2.2.3.2 Orchestration Block
2.2.3.2.1 Kubernetes
2.2.3.3 Application Deployment Block
2.2.4 Container Deployment Methodologies
2.2.4.1 Virtual Machine (VM)
2.2.4.2 Bare Metal
2.2.4.3 Cloud or Container as-a-Service (CaaS)
2.2.5 Stateful and Stateless Containers
2.2.6 CNCF and CNFs
2.3 Contrasting CNF and VNFs
2.4 Advantage CNF
2.4.1 Freedom from Hypervisors
2.4.2 File-level Resource Management
2.4.3 Portability
2.4.4 Microservices-powered Scalability and Granularity
2.4.5 Quick Operationalization
2.4.6 Quick Orchestration with a Caveat
2.4.7 Containers and 5G
2.5 Advantage VNFs .. and PNFs
2.5.1 Familiarity with VMs
2.5.2 Telco Demands
2.5.3 Latency
2.5.4 Security
2.5.5 Flexibility
2.5.6 Hardware Enhancements
2.5.7 Co-existence with PNFs and VNFs
2.6 Blending CNF with NFV
2.6.1 NFVi and CNF
2.6.2 MANO and CNF
2.6.2.1 ONAP and CNFs
2.6.2.1.1 ONAP4K8S
2.6.2.2 OSM and CNFs

3.1 The Core and its Evolution
3.2 Contours of EPC
3.2.1 SAE and the Flat Architecture
3.2.2 Decoupling of Planes
3.2.3 NAS
3.2.4 Blocks in the EPC
3.2.4.1 SGW
3.2.4.2 PGW
3.2.4.3 ePDG
3.2.4.4 TWAG
3.2.4.5 MME
3.2.4.6 HSS
3.2.4.7 Other optional elements
3.3 The 5G Core (5GC)
3.4 The Core VNF and CNF Dynamic
3.4.1 Prelude – Mounting Challenges for the Core
3.4.2 The Remedy
3.4.3 The Mechanics
3.4.4 The Challenges
3.5 The Core - Vendor Approaches
3.5.1 VNF/vEPC
3.5.2 CNF
3.6 The RAN and its Evolution
3.6.1 Closer Look at E-UTRAN
3.6.2 5G- NR, NSA and SA
3.6.3 MEC
3.7 The Progression of the RAN to the vRAN
3.7.1 The Fronthaul Conundrum
3.7.2 The Rigid CPRI
3.7.3 DAS – The Low-Hanging Fruit
3.8 RAN Virtualization – A Story of Alliances
3.8.1 xRAN Forum and ORAN Alliance
3.8.1.1 Architecture and Approach to RAN Layer Split
3.8.2 Open vRAN
3.8.2.1 Architecture and Approach to RAN Layer Split
3.8.3 Telecom Infra Project (TIP) OpenRAN
3.8.3.1 Architecture and Approach to RAN Layer Split
3.8.4 Vendor Approaches to Protocol Stack Split
3.8.5 Cloud-native RAN

4.1 The Time-Lag in Containerization of The Core and The RAN
4.1.1 Core - CNF and VNF Trends
4.1.2 RAN - CNF and VNF Trends
4.1.3 Salient Observations and Inferences
4.2 Telco profiles
4.3 Airtel
4.3.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.4 AT&T
4.4.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.5 BT
4.5.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.6 China Mobile
4.6.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.7 China Telecom
4.7.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.8 China Unicom
4.8.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.9 Deutsche Telekom
4.9.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.1 Etisalat
4.10.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.11 Jio
4.11.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.12 KDDI
4.12.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.13 KT
4.13.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.14 LG Uplus
4.14.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.15 Lifecell Ukraine
4.15.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.16 M1 Singapore
4.16.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.17 NTT DoCoMo
4.17.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.18 Ooredoo
4.18.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.19 Optus (Singtel Optus)
4.19.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.2 Orange
4.20.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.21 Rakuten
4.21.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.22 Saudi Telecom (STC)
4.22.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.23 Singtel
4.23.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.24 SK Telecom
4.24.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.25 Softbank
4.25.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.26 Sprint Corporation
4.26.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.27 Swisscom
4.27.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.28 T-Mobile
4.28.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.29 TIM/Telecom Italia
4.29.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.3 Telenor
4.30.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.31 Telefonica
4.31.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.32 Telia
4.32.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.33 Telkom Indonesia
4.33.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.34 Telstra
4.34.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.35 Turk Telecom
4.35.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.36 Turkcell
4.36.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.37 Veon VimpelCom
4.37.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.38 Verizon
4.38.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
4.39 Vodafone
4.39.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives

5.1 Organization Categories
5.1.1 Telecommunications Domain Experts
5.1.2 DAS Specialists
5.1.3 Equipment Vendors
5.1.4 Independent Software Vendors (ISV)
5.1.5 Semiconductor Specialists
5.1.6 Hardware, OS and Firmware Specialists
5.1.7 Niche Solution Developers
5.2 The RAN Product Development Momentum
5.3 The Maturing of Core VNFs and CNFs
5.4 Mergers and Funding Related Developments
5.5 Company Profiles
5.6 6WIND
5.6.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.6.1.1 6WINDGate
5.7 Affirmed Networks
5.7.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.7.1.1 vEPC
5.7.1.2 Virtual Slice Selection Function (vSSF)
5.7.1.3 UnityCloud
5.8 Airspan
5.8.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.8.1.1 Air5G OpenRange
5.8.1.2 Other Developments
5.9 Altiostar
5.9.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.9.1.1 Altiostar - vRAN
5.9.1.2 Other Developments
5.1 Amarisoft
5.10.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.10.1.1 LTE and 5G NR software
5.10.1.2 Other Developments
5.11 ASOCS
5.11.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.11.1.1 Cyrus 2.0
5.11.1.2 Cyrus
5.11.1.3 Other Developments
5.12 Athonet
5.12.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.12.1.1 Connectivity Platform
5.13 Baicells
5.13.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.13.1.1 vEPC/LTE Core
5.13.1.2 Other Developments
5.14 Cirrus Core Networks (CCN)
5.14.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.14.1.1 vEPC
5.14.1.2 vIMS
5.15 Cisco Systems
5.15.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.15.1.1 Ultra-Packet Core
5.15.1.2 Network Convergence System 540 Fronthaul Routers
5.15.1.3 Other Developments
5.16 Cobham Wireless
5.16.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.16.1.1 idDAS
5.17 Commscope
5.17.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.17.1.1 OneCell Controller
5.17.1.2 Other Developments
5.18 Dali Wireless
5.18.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.18.1.1 Dali - Matrix vFI
5.18.1.2 Other Developments
5.19 Dell EMC
5.19.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.19.1.1 Open Networking Switches
5.19.1.2 Other Developments
5.2 Enea
5.20.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.20.1.1 Unified Data Manager
5.20.1.2 Other Developments
5.21 Ericsson
5.21.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.21.1.1 Cloud Native Application (CNA)
5.21.1.2 vRAN
5.21.1.3 Ericsson - Cloud Packet Core
5.21.1.4 Cloud-native NFVi
5.21.1.5 Other Developments
5.22 Huawei
5.22.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.22.1.1 CloudEPC
5.22.1.2 5G Core
5.22.1.3 Other Initiatives
5.23 Intel
5.23.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.23.1.1 RAN
5.23.1.2 Other Developments
5.24 JMA Wireless
5.24.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.24.1.1 XRAN Adaptive Baseband Software
5.24.1.2 Other Developments
5.25 Mavenir
5.25.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.25.1.1 Cloud Native IMS
5.25.1.2 5G Core
5.25.1.3 vEPC
5.25.1.4 4G/5G OpenRAN
5.25.1.5 vRAN
5.25.1.6 Other Developments
5.26 Metaswitch
5.26.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.26.1.1 Clearwater IMS Core
5.26.1.2 Other Developments
5.27 NEC/Netcracker
5.27.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.27.1.1 Cloud RAN (C-RAN)
5.27.1.2 NEC - vEPC
5.27.1.3 Other Developments
5.28 Nokia
5.28.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.28.1.1 Nokia - Cloud Packet Core
5.28.1.1.1 CMM
5.28.1.1.2 CMG
5.28.1.2 Nokia - AirScale
5.28.1.3 Telecom Application Server
5.28.1.4 Other Developments
5.29 Oracle
5.29.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.29.1.1 Assorted Core NFs
5.3 Parallel Wireless
5.30.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.30.1.1 OpenRAN Hardware Ecosystem
5.31 Phluido
5.31.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.31.1.1 Phluido – vRAN Layer-1
5.31.1.2 Radio-as-a-Service (RaaS)
5.31.1.3 Other Developments
5.32 Quortus
5.32.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.32.1.1 ECX Core
5.32.1.2 Other Developments
5.33 Radisys
5.33.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.33.1.1 MobilityEngine
5.33.1.2 MediaEngine
5.33.1.3 Other Developments
5.34 Red Hat
5.34.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.34.1.1 OpenShift Container Platform
5.34.1.2 Ansible
5.34.1.3 Other Developments
5.35 Samsung
5.35.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.35.1.1 Samsung 5G Core
5.35.1.2 AdaptiV
5.35.1.3 Other Developments
5.36 Telrad Networks
5.36.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.36.1.1 BreezeWAY
5.37 VMware
5.37.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.37.1.1 NSX
5.37.1.2 X-Factor
5.37.1.3 Other Developments
5.38 Wind River
5.38.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.38.1.1 Titanium Cloud Product Portfolio
5.38.1.2 Kubernetes
5.39 ZTE
5.39.1 Core/RAN CNF and VNF Initiatives
5.39.1.1 Cloud Common Core
5.39.1.2 vEPC
5.39.1.3 TECS
5.39.1.4 Other Developments

6.1 Research Methodology
6.2 Forecast Taxonomy
6.3 Overview of the Combined Market
6.4 Foreword
6.4.1 CNF/Container Morphology
6.4.2 CNF Deployment Methodology
6.4.3 Geographical Market
6.4.4 End-user
6.5 Analysis of the Core VNF and CNF Market
6.5.1 vEPC
6.5.2 EPC CNF
6.6 Analysis of the RAN Market
6.6.1 vRAN
6.6.2 RAN CNF