Packet core network (PCN) selection of collocated gateways

A system comprising:

• a processor,
• a network interface, and
• non-transitory memory storing instructions executed by the processor to perform actions including:
• receiving, at a mobility management entity (MME) of a cellular communication network, a network access request to enable user equipment access to the cellular communication network;
• retrieving, by the MME, charging characteristics (CC) information associated with the user equipment, wherein the CC information indicates whether collocated serving gateways (SGWs) and packet gateways (PGWs) are applicable to enable the user equipment access to the cellular communication network;
• and
• in response to the CC information indicating that collocated SGWs and PGWs are applicable to enable the user equipment access to the cellular communication network:
• generating, by the MME, a domain name service (DNS) query comprising a request for SGW identification information associated with one or more collocated SGWs that are available to enable the user equipment access to the cellular communication network, wherein the one or more collocated SGWs are each collocated with a PGW;
• receiving, by the MME, a response to the DNS query, the response comprising the SGW identification information;
• identifying, by the MME, based at least in part on the SGW identification information, a collocated SGW and a corresponding collocated PGW to enable the user equipment access to the cellular communication network;
• and
• using, by the MME, the collocated SGW and the corresponding collocated PGW to enable the user equipment access to the cellular communication network.

Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform actions comprising:

• receiving, at a domain name server (DNS) of a cellular communications network, a DNS query from a mobility management entity (MME), the DNS query comprising:
• a request for one or more internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with one or more collocated serving gateways (SGWs), wherein the collocated SGWs are collocated with corresponding collocated packet gateways (PGWs), and wherein a collocated SGW of the collocated SGWs can be selected for use by the MME to enable network access by user equipment;
• a tracking area code (TAC) that identifies a tracking area associated with the user equipment;
• and
• charging characteristics (CC) information associated with the user equipment;
• identifying, by the DNS in response to the DNS query, the one or more IP addresses, wherein identifying the one or more IP addresses is based on the TAC and the CC information;
• and
• returning, by the DNS, the one or more IP addresses to the MME.