Intel, SK Telecom Solve 5G Low-Latency Issues

In 6G news, SK Telecom, in collaboration with Intel, has devised a new method to solve 5G’s low-latency issues.

• The proposed solution promises a potential 70% reduction in communication delays and a remarkable 33% improvement in service efficiency.
• Inline Service Mesh embeds mesh functionalities within network functions, utilizing Intel Xeon processors with built-in AI.

SK Telecom and Intel have figured out a new method to reduce communication delays in the 6G core architecture.

The companies claim to have successfully addressed the challenge of network complexity. They pointed out a potential 70% reduction in communication delays and a 33% improvement in service efficiency.

According to their white paper, “Toward 6G Core Architecture Using an Inline Service Mesh,” current 5G networks struggle with increasing demands for ultra-low latency and efficient handling of massive data volumes. In other words, despite how fast it is, 5G struggles to send a lot of data from one point to another in milliseconds. With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the AI boom, network management and resource allocation have become complex. The way the network is set up, how it processes data, and propagates signals limit 5G.

Traditionally, service meshes rely on something called sidecar proxies. These proxies run alongside each microservice. They intercept and manage the traffic. As useful and secure as they are, however, they introduce overhead.

What the South Korean telecom giant and Intel are proposing is an Inline Service Mesh. Instead of the meshes running alongside the microservices, the mesh functionalities are embedded within the network functions themselves. This technology utilizes Intel Xeon processors equipped with built-in artificial intelligence (AI).

This method reduces latency by 70%, as evident in the paper, allowing for faster response times and a smoother user experience. In turn, the use of the Gateway CPU, which controls traffic in a network, drops by 33%. Most of all, it reduces costs as it removes the overhead coming from the sidecar proxies.

In short, it significantly enhances communication speed within the Core network, which is the conduit for all voice and data traffic from mobile devices to access the Internet.

Now, what does that have to do with 6G?

With the rise of the newest technologies, including AR/VR sets like the Apple Vision Pro, connected vehicles like Tesla’s electrical vehicles, and industrial artificially intelligent automation, humanity is leaning on these networks. We need them to provide a good and stable connection to support these applications. And while some regions in the world are still implementing 5G, other places, especially developed countries, are now looking into 6G. They need lower latency and higher efficiency to be able to be useful.

These simple changes go a long way in a world that is very heavily reliant on data exchange. If we want a connected smart future, we need to have the proper equipment. Inline Service Mesh’s application of AI technology to the Core network opens up new possibilities for more diverse AI models.

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