Composition Capable Network

Description

The Composition Capable Network (CCN) is a 3GPP architectural framework that enables the dynamic composition of network functions and services across multiple administrative domains. At its core, CCN provides mechanisms for discovering, selecting, and combining network capabilities from different providers to create end-to-end services. This architecture introduces composition functions that act as intermediaries between service consumers and network resource providers, managing the lifecycle of composed network services through standardized interfaces and protocols.

The CCN architecture consists of several key components: the Composition Function (CF), which orchestrates the composition process; the Service Registry, which maintains information about available network capabilities; the Resource Manager, which handles resource allocation and reservation; and the Composition Manager, which oversees the entire composition lifecycle. These components work together through standardized reference points defined in 3GPP specifications, enabling interoperability between different network domains and administrative entities. The CF interacts with network function providers through composition interfaces, negotiating service level agreements and ensuring compliance with technical and business requirements.

From a technical perspective, CCN operates through a multi-phase process: capability discovery, where available network functions and resources are identified; composition planning, where optimal combinations of capabilities are determined based on service requirements; composition instantiation, where the selected network functions are configured and interconnected; and composition management, where the composed service is monitored and maintained throughout its lifecycle. The architecture supports both static composition (pre-configured service chains) and dynamic composition (on-demand service creation), with mechanisms for fault tolerance, load balancing, and quality of service assurance.

CCN plays a crucial role in enabling network slicing and service customization in 5G and beyond networks. By allowing operators to combine capabilities from multiple providers, it facilitates the creation of specialized network slices for different use cases (e.g., enhanced mobile broadband, massive IoT, ultra-reliable low-latency communications) without requiring single-vendor solutions. The architecture also supports business models like network-as-a-service and facilitates the integration of third-party network functions, promoting innovation and competition in the telecommunications ecosystem.

Purpose & Motivation

CCN was developed to address the growing complexity of multi-vendor, multi-domain network environments in modern telecommunications. Traditional network architectures often relied on monolithic, vertically integrated solutions from single vendors, making it difficult to combine capabilities from different providers and limiting operator flexibility. As networks evolved toward more open, disaggregated architectures with network function virtualization and software-defined networking, there emerged a need for standardized mechanisms to compose end-to-end services from heterogeneous network components.

The primary motivation for CCN was to enable operators to create customized network services by dynamically combining capabilities from multiple administrative domains and technology providers. This addresses several limitations of previous approaches: it eliminates vendor lock-in by allowing interoperability between different network function implementations; it enables more efficient resource utilization by allowing operators to select the most appropriate capabilities for specific service requirements; and it supports new business models where network capabilities can be offered as services across organizational boundaries. CCN also facilitates the realization of network slicing in 5G systems, where different slices may require different combinations of network functions and resources.

Historically, CCN emerged from 3GPP's work on network architecture evolution, particularly in the context of service capability exposure and network function virtualization. It builds upon concepts from earlier standardization efforts in areas like service-oriented architecture and network service chaining, but applies them specifically to the telecommunications domain with requirements for carrier-grade reliability, security, and performance. The development of CCN was driven by operator demands for greater flexibility in service creation and deployment, as well as the industry trend toward network disaggregation and open interfaces.

Key Features

• Dynamic composition of network functions across administrative domains
• Standardized interfaces for capability discovery and negotiation
• Support for both static and dynamic service composition
• Lifecycle management of composed network services
• Quality of service assurance across composed service chains
• Business and technical policy enforcement during composition

Evolution Across Releases

Defining Specifications