Scalable evolved packet core

An apparatus configured to provide a distributed core framework for a voice and data network, the apparatus comprising a processor in communication with memory and a set of additional processing resources, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in the memory that cause the processor to:

• execute a control plane comprising a set of control plane components associated with the control plane, comprising:
• executing the set of control plane components using a set of virtual machines running on a first portion of the set of processing resources;
• and
• providing a first network interface for the control plane to the voice and data network, wherein the first network interface is shared by the set of control plane components;
• execute a data plane comprising a set of data plane components associated with the data plane, comprising:
• executing the set of data plane components using a set of virtual machines running on a second portion of the set of processing resources;
• and
• providing a second network interface for the data plane to the voice and data network, wherein the second network interface is shared by the set of data plane components;
• executing a network function virtualization orchestration layer to coordinate execution of the set of control plane components and the set of data plane components;
• receive, via the first network interface, a session request from a remote device;
• process, using a first control plane component from the set of control plane components, the session request to configure a selected data plane component from the set of data plane components to handle a session created for the session request, such that the selected data plane component is in direct communication with the remote device using the second network interface to handle the session.

At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a plurality of computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising:

• executing a control plane comprising a set of control plane components associated with the control plane, comprising:
• executing the control plane components using a set of virtual machines running on a first set of computing devices;
• and
• providing a first network interface for the control plane to a voice and data network, wherein the first network interface is shared by the set of control plane components;
• executing a data plane comprising a set of data plane components associated with the data plane, comprising:
• executing the data plane components using a set of virtual machines running on a second set of computing devices;
• and
• providing a second network interface for the data plane to the voice and data network, wherein the second network interface is shared by the set of data plane components;
• executing a network function virtualization orchestration layer to coordinate execution of the set of control plane components and the set of data plane components;
• receiving, via the first network interface, a session request from a remote device;
• processing, using a first control plane component from the set of control plane components, the session request to configure a selected data plane component from the set of data plane components to handle a session created for the session request, such that the selected data plane component is in direct communication with the remote device using the second network interface to handle the session.