SR4MEC: Enabling Flexible and Scalable Edge Computing in 5G Networks

The integration of edge computing with 5G networks is crucial to meeting the demands for low latency, and efficient resource utilization in modern applications. This paper introduces SR4MEC, an innovative architecture that leverages Segment Routing (SR) to provide scalable and dynamic access to edge-hosted services in 5G networks. The SR-based user plane is integrated seamlessly with the 5G core network, thanks to an abstraction layer and new control plane elements managing the bindings and the states pushed at the ingress nodes of the SR domain. The proposed solution enhances flexibility in accessing service instances at the network edge by relying on policies mapping services and regions to specific edges, while addressing key requirements such as compatibility with 5G control plane, operator control, and runtime updates. An open-source prototype demonstrates the effectiveness of SR4MEC to connect a user equipment to an edge when establishing the PDU session, and to dynamically switch edge without breaking the session.