November 2, 2021
In the frame of the EVOLVED-5G project, the Media Networks Laboratory builds the first NEF Emulator, an open source project, that implements the standardised NEF APIs in a configurable emulated environment, where the user can define specific simulation environments (e.g. number and type of UEs, position of gNBs etc.) and then the respective NetApp to be tested by interacting with the emulated exposed NEF APIs.
Overall, the project envisages the openness and network programmability of the 5G Core through standard 3GPP exposed APIs, such as the ones provided from Network Exposure Function (NEF), a border function of the 5G core network.
Dr. Harilaos Koumaras, principal investigator of IIT, NCSR Demokritos and Technical Manager of the EVOLVED-5G project stated: “EVOLVED-5G and NEF Emulator democratizes the 5G openness to every third party that is interested in developing 5G-aware services and applications, the so-called NetApps. NEF emulator is an easy-to-use tool that provides access to the 3GPP NEF APIs, even if a real 5G Core network is not available”.
More information on the 5G PPP website.
Article on 5G-PPP website.