Subject: [DMM] IPv6 GTP-C/GTP-U

From: Arashmid Akhavain <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2018 19:12:01 +0000

As I am sure you all know, recently 3GPP CT4 approved a Study Item asking IETF’s DMM to investigate alternative data paths for N9?
Given that big mobile operators have already selected IPV6 as their choice of data path, is it the GTP that 3GPP is interested in finding alternatives for?

Lionel, your insight is greatly appreciated.

Terry, any thoughts on this?

Note: I have copied [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]> since they are the WG with 3GPP mandate and it would be perhaps better to try to use that mailing list to continue our discussions.

Arashmid

From: 5gangip [mailto:[email-masked]] On Behalf Of FIGURELLE, TERRY F
Sent: 24 January 2018 11:58
To: Ca By <[email-masked]>; [email-masked]
Cc: [email-masked]; [email-masked]; [email-masked]
Subject: Re: [5gangip] IPv6 GTP-C/GTP-U

We have deployed more than 20k eNB’s that use IPv6 only transport for S1-U and all of our SGW’s and PGW’s support IPv6 transport for GTP-U and GTP-C. We actually are working with Syniverse for IPv6 IPX for S8. We already have inter lab over production Syniverse IPX between AT&T and six other major telecoms (Bell Canada, Rogers, DoCoMo, etc.).

We are running  production VoLTE (ims APN) using IPv6 GTP-U|GTP-C with UE IPv6 only and the common general purpose APN (nxtgenphone) supports IPv4 only, IPv6 only and currently IPv4v6 (deprecated by 3GPP). This includes two UE operating systems which cover 97% of the market share. Only handful of devices where certified for IPv4v6. All devices AT&T has certified since the launch or UMS support IPv4 only, IPv6 only and “IPv4 or IPv6”. AT&T’s device requirements are considered the gold standard in the mobile industry. All of the major vendors for EPC support IPv6 GTP transport and we have 42 million active subscribers running on a virtualize EPC (Intel COTS hardware, hypervisor, etc.) that supports IPv6 GTP. Verizon, T-Mobile (USA) and Sprint also use IPv6.

GM’s OnStar uses IPv6 only VoLTE over IPv6 GTP-U in North America they use UE IPv4 only for the other APN’s but those still use IPv6 GTP-U in North America. BMW and other auto companies also support IPv6 GTP-U in North America. AT&T was the first to support LTE roaming and we helped Bell Canada and Rogers support it. We can use direct connections (IPX bypass) or Syniverse IPX for LTE roaming. There are a number of country specific IPX but Syniverse now supports interop with a large number of telecoms via their IPX or in conjunction with country specific IPX.

Ericson, Huawei, Samsung and Nokia all support IPv6 GTP-U eNB’s. Spirent, Tektronix and other test tool vendors all support IPv6 GTP-C|GTP-U. IPv6 GTP has been supported for several years in production networks. It’s very common in Asian countries too.

Hopefully this ends the IPv6 GTP thread!!!

Terry Figurelle
Lead Member of Technical Staff
Wireless Network Arch. & Design
Mobility Core
AT&T Services
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>
cell - (206)601-5157