Multi-Access Edge Computing: Performance Optimization via Orchestration and Virtualization

Multi-access Edge Computing is an architectural model proposed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to support the traffic growth and latency requirements coming from new applications and use cases. In conjunction with existing access technologies (i.e.: 5G, Passive Optical Networks, etc.) it can enable services of the future which are hungry of high bit-rate and real low round trip time. This thesis is divided in three parts: in the first part, the theoretical background is given along with an overview of the main virtualization and orchestration technologies. In the second part of this thesis, the most relevant publications produced during the PhD period are appended. In the third and last part, conclusions and future research directions are drawn. The content of this thesis evolves following two main directions: low latency and multimedia. In the low latency direction, a whole 5G enabled Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) with Optical Access Network backhaul and a Service Based Architecture for the 5G core will be introduced, designed and realized along with a management and orchestration framework that takes decision to commission or decommission network slices, optimizing performances through the network. The multimedia direction will show performance optimization in video streaming and spatial audio scenarios, leveraging the edge capabilities of Multi-access Edge Computing. Finally, a contribution to O-RAN security is shown as fundamental and transversal discipline. A significant contribution to this topic is proposed to enforce the O-RAN protection against malicious attackers.