QoS support in IP/MPLS-based radio access networks

This paper addresses a new approach of IP/MPLS to provide QoS in radio access networks (RANs) that satisfies the diverse QoS requirements while efficiently utilizing network resources in the RANs. Two levels of service differentiation are denned, namely MPLS-level and DiffServ-level. At MPLS-level, separate label switched paths (LSPs) are established for control plane traffic and user plane traffic. At DiffServ-level, control plane traffic (network control and signaling) and real-time user plane traffic are mapped to DiffServ expedited forwarding (EF); non-real-time user plane traffic is mapped to DiffServ assured forwarding (AF). Combining QoS routing with dynamic resource allocation, simulation results show that this approach does provides a framework of QoS support in IP/MPLS-based radio access networks.