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Image by Tung Nguyen from Pixabay

The telecommunications sector is undergoing a profound transformation, fueled by the advent of 5G technology and the growing adoption of network virtualisation. By delivering unparalleled speeds, reduced latency, and the ability to connect vast numbers of devices, 5G is paving the way for groundbreaking applications such as autonomous vehicles and augmented reality. At the same time, network virtualisation is reshaping infrastructure by decoupling network functions from hardware, creating enhanced scalability and cost-effectiveness opportunities.

A key figure in this evolution is Ishan Bhatt, whose work has significantly advanced these innovations. While at AT&T, Ishan spearheaded the virtualisation of critical network functions for FirstNet, ensuring dependable communication for first responders, and played a vital role in certifying the IMS platform for VoLTE and E911 services. Now, he focuses on driving cutting-edge edge networking solutions at Google, enabling high-performance, low-latency systems.

Resilient Networks for First Responders

Building and managing critical networks like AT&T's IMS platform and FirstNet highlighted the need for secure and reliable infrastructures, especially for emergency communications. These efforts focused on high availability, prioritising first responders, and ensuring stringent security. As Ishan explained, 'I gained expertise in designing fault-tolerant systems, implementing geo-redundancy, and ensuring quick failover mechanisms to minimise service interruptions.'

FirstNet's unique requirements further emphasised scalability, security, and quality of service (QoS). Solutions included advanced encryption, dynamic network slicing, and robust interoperability to integrate diverse legacy systems. Addressing the mandate for priority and preemption during crises, these innovations ensured resilience while accommodating future technologies like 5G and IoT. Ishan noted that this work reinforced 'secure-by-design' principles, equipping networks to perform reliably under the most demanding conditions.

From Challenges to Innovations in Virtualisation

Virtualising 5G and VoLTE network functions has revolutionised telecom infrastructure while posing performance, reliability, and scalability challenges. Addressing latency issues involved optimising NFV infrastructure with techniques like SR-IOV and DPDK, alongside transitioning to containers for efficient resource management. 'Adopting distributed architectures brought critical functions like User Plane Functions closer to the edge, ensuring ultra-low latency for time-sensitive operations,' noted Ishan.

Reliability improvements included geo-redundant clusters, dynamic load balancing, and microservices designs to isolate failures. AI-powered monitoring further minimises downtime through predictive maintenance and fault detection. Scalability was achieved with auto-scaling, orchestration tools, and edge computing to adapt to shifting traffic demands. Together, these innovations enabled high-performance, flexible networks tailored to the evolving needs of modern connectivity.

Making E911 Reliable and Accurate

Integrating E911 into AT&T's IMS platform required a meticulous approach to ensure reliability and accuracy in emergency services. Tools like Location Information Servers (LIS) and Location Routing Function (LRF) enabled precise, real-time location updates, even during VoLTE handovers.

'The system incorporated geo-redundant architectures to ensure the E911 service remained available even during network failures and relied on extensive testing to validate its reliability,' noted Ishan. Compliance with FCC regulations ensured precise call routing during peak traffic, while advanced security protocols protected sensitive data, highlighting the importance of resilience in mission-critical infrastructures.

Best Practices for Secure Virtualised Networks

The growing use of virtualised and cloud-native architectures for critical applications like VoLTE and FirstNet requires strategies to ensure security and performance. A zero-trust model with strict access controls and encryption safeguards sensitive data, while dynamic network slicing and edge computing reduce latency by processing operations closer to users.

Geo-redundancy and active-active failover mechanisms enhance resilience, ensuring uninterrupted services. As Ishan states, 'the combination of virtualised and cloud-native architectures has revolutionised how telecom networks support critical applications like VoLTE and FirstNet.' Automation with CI/CD pipelines and AI-driven analytics further boosts efficiency by predicting issues and optimising real-time performance, enabling secure, reliable, and low-latency networks.

5G and Virtualisation: Past, Present, and Future

The evolution of 5G and virtualisation has redefined telecommunications, delivering ultra-low latency, high throughput, and massive device connectivity to power innovations like autonomous vehicles and smart cities. As Ishan noted, 'Network slicing has allowed operators to create virtual networks tailored to specific use cases,' enabling efficient resource allocation across sectors like healthcare and IoT. VirtualisationThrough NFV and SDN, virtualisation has further enhanced adaptability, allowing faster and more cost-effective deployments.

Future advancements, including Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) and dynamic network slicing, promise to transform the industry further. MEC enables real-time processing by reducing latency, which is crucial for applications like industrial IoT and autonomous mobility. Ishan highlights the importance of preparing for future innovations, including 'AI-driven network management, hyper-connectivity, and 6G research,' which will expand telecom's reach into new domains and foster industry-wide collaboration.

Ishan's contributions to advancing through 5G and network virtualisation showcase his dedication to innovation and adaptability. His work highlights the path toward more efficient and resilient systems. As the industry evolves toward 6G, Ishan's focus on modular designs and microservices ensures networks remain agile, future-ready, and capable of thriving amid rapid technological advancements.