Processing user traffic in a virtualised network

A system for processing user traffic in a virtualized network, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
• instantiating first, second and third user plane functions in a same network namespace in user space in a host, the first, second and third user plane functions having access to a shared memory region of the host;
• establishing a first point-to-point, shared-memory interface between the first and second user plane functions;
• establishing a second point-to-point, shared-memory interface between the first and third user plane functions;
• using the first user plane function to transmit first control data, relating to user traffic in the shared memory region, to the second user plane function;
• and
• using the first user plane function to transmit second control data, relating to user traffic in the shared memory region, to the third user plane function.

A method of processing user traffic in a 5G network, the method comprising:

• instantiating a UPF and at least one network function in a same network namespace in a host of the 5G network, the UPF and the at least one network function having access to a shared memory region of the host;
• establishing at least one virtio interface with the at least one network function;
• processing received user traffic;
• storing the processed user traffic in the shared memory region of the host;
• and
• transmitting control data associated with the received user traffic to the at least one further network function,
• wherein the at least one network function comprises SF or MEC functionality.