Network Resource Optimization in SDN-based Cellular Networks: A Traffic Steering Approach

Using the attributes of software-defined networking (SDN) platform, we propose an adaptive traffic steering scheme for the ultra-dense heterogeneous cellular networks. The proposed traffic steering scheme maximizes the utilization of network radio resources. In this paper, a SDN-based cellular network is proposed to assist steering scheme by providing real-time networks and user's state information. After the cell condition is identified depending on resource utilization, three case scenarios are considered in the heterogeneous cellular networks (HetNets). In each scenario, proposed traffic steering algorithm makes a decision matrix for the user's redistribution. Finally, the selected users perform the steering operation. Our proposed scheme ensures that, radio resource utilization can be maximized by redistributing the users in the available radio resources. Comprehensive system level simulations have been conducted. It is shown that the proposed traffic steering scheme increases network resource utilization and reduces the number of users transferred.