DEMO: On-demand 5G/6G edge verticals via third-party UPF selection and cloud-native relocation

Integrating edge computing with 5G/6G, bolstered by standards such as ETSI Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), becomes indispensable, particularly in addressing end-to-end latency-sensitive vertical applications. Thus, it is imperative to delve into infrastructure and network considerations, including the relocation of server workloads and optimization of user data planes. Notably, 3GPP facilitates third-party vertical providers' access to user equipment (UE) metrics and data plane capacities through the Network Exposure Function (NEF). This paper showcases a demonstration that focuses on the seamless coordination of cloud-native workload relocation and user plane function (UPF) selection within the 5G network. Here, the interaction between a vertical provider and the 5G core enables informed decisions aimed at ensuring minimal latency by triggering UPF selection and relocation of containerized servers to the cloud or the edge, illustrating the anticipated trend of increased automation within 6G networks.