A Modern Edge-based Design for Cellular Roaming

Abstract

Support for roaming in today’s cellular architecture involves operating a private network that sits right next to the mainstream Internet. This network is called the IP Exchange Network (IPX) and it provides Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) with a mechanism to form roaming partnerships, resolve billing and QoS, and set up tunnels as necessary. We propose a design which we call the CPX (Consolidated IPX/IXP) where the roaming network converges with the Internet by leveraging existing edge providers to provide all the benefits that the IPX network provides. In addition to convergence, the CPX architecture provides lower latency for roaming users; in our simulation of a global CPX deployment, we demonstrate an average of 318% improvement in roaming connection latency.