A Blueprint for a Private 5G Core on OpenStack

The telecommunications industry stands at a crossroads. 5G network deployment challenges include use of mmWave frequencies and massive small cell deployments that require new approaches to network deployment, while demand for private 5G is finally improving according to Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. For telecom operators evaluating infrastructure options for private 5G core networks, the choice between public cloud and private cloud infrastructure has become more than just a technical decision but a strategic one that impacts speed to market, operational control, and long-term profitability.

Telecom operators can achieve faster, more cost-effective private 5G core deployments using OpenStack infrastructure, eliminating the unpredictable costs and vendor lock-in of public cloud while maintaining the performance isolation and control plane separation that 5G networks require. This blueprint demonstrates how OpenStack-powered infrastructure addresses the unique challenges of deploying private 5G core networks, offering telecom operators a path to faster deployment, predictable costs, and the open architecture that modern 5G implementations demand.

Understanding Private 5G Core Requirements

5G Core (5GC) is the heart of next-generation network technology, serving as the central component in modern 5G networks. Unlike traditional network architectures, the 5G core represents a shift toward more agile and scalable networks that support the convergence of network services.

For private 5G deployments, the core network becomes even more critical. Private 5G Networks are dedicated cellular systems that enterprises can design, deploy, and operate specifically for their own environments, built on the same international 3GPP standards that define public 5G. This means your infrastructure must support not just the technical requirements of 5G, but also the operational demands of enterprise-grade private networks.

The core network manages several mission-critical functions:

Authentication and Security Management: Every device connecting to your private network requires SIM-based authentication and encrypted traffic handling. Private 5G provides stronger security through SIM-based access and encrypted traffic, ensuring sensitive information never leaves the enterprise domain.

Network Slicing Capabilities: 5G Core enables network slicing, which allows for the creation of multiple virtual networks on a single physical network infrastructure. This feature becomes essential for private networks serving different applications with varying quality of service requirements.

Ultra-Low Latency Processing: Manufacturing, healthcare, and other mission-critical applications require response times measured in milliseconds. Your infrastructure must support edge computing integration and local data processing to meet these demands.

Massive Device Connectivity: Private 5G networks often support thousands of IoT devices, sensors, and automated systems simultaneously. Unlike Wi-Fi, which can degrade in high-density environments, private 5G RANs are engineered to handle thousands of connected devices simultaneously.

Why Public Cloud Falls Short for 5G Core Deployments

While public cloud providers initially embraced private 5G, recent market shifts reveal inherent limitations. AWS recently ended support for its private 5G service, and Microsoft announced that it will retire its private 5G core service in September. These moves highlight fundamental challenges with public cloud approaches to telecom infrastructure.

Variable Cost Structure: Public cloud billing models create unpredictable expenses that conflict with telecom operational requirements. 5G networks generate massive data volumes with variable traffic patterns, exactly the scenario that leads to bill shock in consumption-based cloud models. When your network slice for autonomous manufacturing robots suddenly generates 10x normal traffic during a production surge, your infrastructure costs shouldn’t spike proportionally.

Latency and Edge Requirements: Edge computing integration provides ultra-low latency responses in milliseconds, reduced bandwidth costs through local data processing, and real-time insights enabling automated quality inspection. Public cloud regions typically sit hundreds of miles from deployment sites, making it impossible to achieve the 1-5 millisecond latency requirements that many 5G applications demand.

Vendor Lock-in Concerns: Public cloud providers offer proprietary APIs and services that create dependency relationships. For telecom operators building long-term infrastructure investments, this represents unacceptable strategic risk. Enterprises must ensure their private 5G network integrates with existing IT infrastructure, including applications, databases, and security systems.

Limited Control Over Performance: In shared public cloud environments, you compete for resources with other tenants. Public 5G networks are subject to variable performance and network congestion, and the same resource contention issues affect public cloud infrastructure supporting private 5G cores.

The OpenStack Advantage for Telecom Infrastructure

OpenStack has become the de facto standard for telecom cloud infrastructure, and for good reason. Unlike public cloud platforms designed primarily for web applications, OpenStack was architected from the ground up to support the demanding requirements of network function virtualization (NFV) and telecom workloads.

Proven Telecom Heritage: OpenStack powers critical infrastructure at major telecommunications companies worldwide. This isn’t experimental technology, it’s battle-tested infrastructure that already supports production telecom networks at massive scale. The telecom operators using OpenStack represent some of the world’s largest network deployments.

Open APIs and Standards Compliance: OpenStack provides open APIs with no vendor lock-in that align with ETSI MANO and telecom OSS/BSS orchestration requirements. This means your 5G core deployment integrates naturally with existing telecom operational systems and maintains flexibility for future technology evolution.

Performance Isolation: OpenStack’s architecture supports the performance isolation needed for NFV workloads. Unlike public cloud environments where you share resources with unpredictable neighbors, OpenStack enables dedicated resource allocation that maintains consistent performance characteristics.

Network Function Optimization: OpenStack includes networking components specifically designed for telecom use cases, including SR-IOV support, DPDK acceleration, and CPU pinning capabilities that ensure deterministic performance for real-time network functions.

OpenMetal’s Cloud Core Architecture for 5G Deployments

OpenMetal’s 3-server Cloud Core architecture addresses the specific challenges telecom operators face when deploying private 5G infrastructure. This isn’t generic cloud infrastructure adapted for telecom, it’s built for the demanding requirements of network function virtualization and 5G core deployment.

Rapid Deployment Capabilities: Our Cloud Core architecture gets operators up and running with full private cloud functionality in 45 seconds, meeting the speed requirements that telecom operators demand for rapid service deployment. This includes 20-minute node expansion for scaling beyond the initial cluster, enabling operators to respond quickly to changing capacity requirements.

Hyper-Converged Design: Compute, storage, and networking run on the same nodes while maintaining the performance isolation needed for NFV workloads. This eliminates the complexity and latency of separate storage networks while ensuring that your 5G core functions receive dedicated resources.

Multiple Hardware Configurations: We offer multiple hardware generations with some current V4 and V3 options including:

• Medium V4: 2x12C/24T Intel Xeon Silver 4510 Scalable, 256GB DDR5 RAM, 6.4TB Micron 7450/7500 MAX NVMe
• Large V3: 2x16C/32T Intel Xeon Gold 5416S, 512GB DDR5 RAM, 12.8TB Micron 7450/7500 MAX NVMe
• XL V3: 2x32C/64T Intel Xeon Gold 6430, 1024GB DDR5 RAM, 25.6TB Micron 7450/7500 MAX NVMe
• XXL V4: 2x32C/64T Intel Xeon Gold 6530, 2048GB DDR5 RAM, 38.4TB Micron 7450/7500 MAX NVMe

All configurations include 20Gbps NICs standard, providing the high-bandwidth connectivity essential for 5G backhaul and inter-service communication.

Security and Isolation Features: V4 servers include confidential computing capabilities with Intel TDX/SGX for security isolation that telecom operators need for control plane and user plane separation. This hardware-level security ensures that sensitive network functions remain isolated even in multi-tenant scenarios.

Network Architecture for 5G Core Functions

The networking layer represents one of the most critical components of private 5G infrastructure. The 5G Core manages authentication of users and devices, mobility management ensuring devices stay connected while moving, and traffic routing and prioritization separating mission-critical applications from background traffic.

Our containerized OpenStack deployment via Kolla-Ansible supports two distinct networking layers that directly address 5G deployment requirements:

Dedicated VLANs for Service Isolation: Each customer deployment receives dedicated VLANs with 20Gbps dual links and unmetered inter-server traffic. This ensures that different network functions—whether control plane, user plane, or management functions—maintain complete traffic isolation while sharing the same physical infrastructure.

OpenStack VPCs with VXLAN Overlays: Our platform provides custom subnets, NAT, and VPN-as-a-Service that directly support network slicing, control/user plane isolation, and edge connectivity for 5G networks. Network slicing allows for the creation of multiple virtual networks on a single physical network infrastructure, crucial for private 5G networks serving different applications with varying quality of service requirements.

This dual-layer approach means you can implement the complex networking topologies that 5G core functions require while maintaining the simplicity and automation that modern DevOps practices demand.

Container Orchestration and Cloud-Native Network Functions

Modern 5G implementations increasingly rely on cloud-native network functions (CNFs) rather than traditional virtual network functions (VNFs). Our platform supports Kubernetes plus cloud-native network functions with container orchestration that telecom operators need for modern 5G implementations.

Kubernetes Integration: Our OpenStack platform provides native Kubernetes integration, enabling you to deploy CNFs using standard container orchestration tools. This approach offers several advantages over traditional VM-based network functions:

• Faster scaling and deployment of network functions
• More efficient resource utilization through container density
• Simplified CI/CD pipelines for network function updates
• Better alignment with cloud-native development practices

Service Mesh Capabilities: Container networking includes service mesh capabilities that provide automatic load balancing, traffic encryption, and observability for network functions. This eliminates much of the manual configuration required for traditional NFV deployments.

For telecom operators transitioning from traditional network architectures, our Kubernetes on OpenStack for telco implementation provides a proven path for modernizing network function deployment while maintaining the reliability and performance characteristics that telecom applications require.

Economic Model: Fixed Costs vs. Variable Cloud Pricing

One of the most compelling advantages of private cloud infrastructure for 5G core deployment lies in the economic model. Traditional public cloud pricing creates exactly the wrong incentives for telecom infrastructure, where usage spikes should be opportunities for revenue growth rather than cost increases.

Predictable Monthly Pricing: Our fixed monthly pricing model eliminates the unpredictable expenses from variable 5G traffic patterns. This includes egress bandwidth per server and 95th percentile billing at $375/Gbps (approximately 180TB monthly) with aggregation across clusters for operators managing multiple slices and regions.

Cost Savings at Scale: We eliminate software licensing fees entirely and typically save customers 30-60% compared to public cloud at scale. For telecom operators deploying multiple 5G cores across different regions or customer sites, these savings compound significantly.

Ramp Pricing and Migration Support: We offer ramp pricing and migration credits for operators transitioning from public cloud or lab environments to production deployments. This reduces the financial risk of infrastructure migration while providing immediate cost benefits.

Consider a typical private 5G deployment supporting a smart manufacturing facility: instead of paying variable costs that spike during production peaks, operators pay predictable monthly fees that enable accurate business case modeling and profitable service delivery.

Geographic Distribution and Edge Deployment

Private 5G network deployments require significant planning and coordination, especially for organizations with limited resources and specialized staff requirements. Geographic distribution becomes crucial for achieving the low latency that 5G applications require.

Global Data Center Footprint: We operate from Tier III data centers with global footprint in Ashburn, LA, Amsterdam, and Singapore, providing geo-distributed edge deployment capabilities with uptime SLAs and multiple Tier-1 carriers.

Edge Computing Integration: Our platform enables deployment of 5G core functions closer to end users and devices. Edge computing provides ultra-low latency responses in milliseconds, reduced bandwidth costs through local data processing, and real-time insights enabling use cases such as automated quality inspection or AR/VR training.

Multi-Region Coordination: For operators deploying private 5G across multiple sites, our platform supports centralized management with distributed deployment. This means you can maintain consistent policies and security postures across all sites while ensuring that each location provides local processing capabilities.

Implementation Roadmap: From Planning to Production

Deploying a private 5G core on OpenStack infrastructure requires careful planning and phased execution. Based on our experience with telecom operators, here’s a proven roadmap for successful implementation:

Phase 1: Requirements Analysis and Architecture Design (Weeks 1-2)

Start by defining your specific 5G use cases and performance requirements. Clear requirements help avoid over-engineering and ensure that the private 5G deployment aligns with business outcomes. Document coverage requirements, expected device density, latency targets, and integration points with existing systems.

Work with our engineering team to design the optimal hardware configuration and network topology for your deployment. This includes spectrum planning, RAN integration points, and core network function placement.

Phase 2: Pilot Deployment and Testing (Weeks 3-4)

Deploy a pilot environment using our rapid provisioning capabilities. Our 45-second Cloud Core provisioning enables rapid iteration during the testing phase. This pilot should include:

• Core network function deployment and configuration
• Integration testing with RAN components
• Performance validation under simulated load
• Security testing and compliance verification

Phase 3: Production Deployment and Integration (Weeks 5-6)

Scale from pilot to production using our 20-minute node expansion capabilities. This phase includes:

• Full-scale hardware deployment across all required sites
• Integration with existing OSS/BSS systems
• User acceptance testing with actual devices and applications
• Staff training and operational procedure development

Phase 4: Optimization and Scaling (Ongoing)

Monitor performance and optimize configuration based on actual usage patterns. Our platform provides the flexibility to adjust resource allocation, add capacity, and integrate new network functions as requirements evolve.

Security Architecture and Compliance Considerations

Security represents one of the most critical aspects of private 5G core deployment. Private 5G networks often involve the transmission and processing of sensitive data, requiring compliance with user protection legislation such as GDPR and other relevant laws.

Multi-Layer Security Approach: Our platform implements security at multiple layers:

• Hardware-level confidential computing with Intel TDX/SGX for process isolation
• Network-level isolation through dedicated VLANs and encrypted tunnels
• Application-level security through container isolation and service mesh encryption
• Management-level security through role-based access controls and audit logging

Compliance Framework Support: The open source approach with OpenStack and Ceph provides the transparency and auditability that many compliance frameworks require. Unlike proprietary public cloud services, you maintain full visibility into system configuration and data handling practices.

Control Plane and User Plane Separation: Our architecture supports the strict separation of control plane and user plane traffic required for telecom security standards. This ensures that network management traffic remains isolated from user data flows, reducing attack vectors and simplifying compliance validation.

Support and Operations Model

Telecom infrastructure demands 24/7 availability and expert-level support capabilities. Our support model reflects the unique requirements of network operators:

Engineer-to-Engineer Support: We offer multiple support levels including engineer-to-engineer onboarding and dedicated Slack channels as part of our SLA-driven support model. Our engineers understand telecom reliability and performance requirements, enabling faster problem resolution and more effective technical discussions.

Operational Integration: Rather than treating infrastructure as a black box, we provide full root access for customizing 5G functions and integrating with existing operational processes. This enables telecom operators to maintain the level of control they require for mission-critical network infrastructure.

Proactive Monitoring: Our support includes proactive monitoring and alerting for infrastructure health, with escalation procedures designed around telecom availability requirements rather than generic cloud service levels.

Business Case: ROI Analysis for Private 5G Infrastructure

The projects that “stick” are those with positive returns. Typically what happens is customers go into building systems out, but when they find out there is no return on investment, things. Building a solid business case for private 5G infrastructure requires careful analysis of both costs and benefits.

Capital Expenditure Considerations: While private infrastructure requires higher upfront investment compared to public cloud, the total cost of ownership typically favors private deployment at the scale required for production 5G services. Our cloud deployment calculator helps operators model costs across different scenarios and deployment sizes.

Operational Expenditure Benefits: Fixed monthly pricing eliminates the budget variability that makes public cloud unsuitable for telecom business models. Operators can price their 5G services based on predictable infrastructure costs rather than variable consumption charges.

Revenue Opportunities: Private 5G enables new revenue streams that would be uneconomical with public cloud cost structures. Manufacturing automation, smart city services, and other high-value applications become viable when infrastructure costs remain predictable regardless of data volume.

Risk Mitigation: Public cloud alternatives reduce vendor dependency and provide better control over service availability. For telecom operators with stringent SLA requirements, this risk reduction represents significant economic value.

Future-Proofing Your 5G Infrastructure Investment

The telecommunications industry continues evolving rapidly, with new standards, technologies, and requirements emerging regularly. Your infrastructure investment must accommodate this evolution without requiring complete replacement.

Standards Compliance: OpenStack’s adherence to open standards ensures compatibility with emerging technologies and vendor ecosystems. As international standards evolve and technologies like AI-driven orchestration, edge computing, and digital twins mature, private 5G will only grow in importance.

Technology Evolution Path: Our platform supports the migration path from current 5G implementations toward future 6G technologies. The open architecture and standards-based approach ensure that investments in OpenStack infrastructure will continue providing value as network technologies advance.

Ecosystem Integration: The OpenStack ecosystem includes thousands of vendors and service providers, ensuring that you’ll never face vendor lock-in or limited technology choices. This ecosystem approach provides better long-term value than proprietary platforms that limit your technology options.

Getting Started: Next Steps for Telecom Operators

Ready to explore how OpenStack infrastructure can accelerate your private 5G core deployment? Here’s how to begin:

Technical Consultation: Schedule a consultation with our telecom engineering team to discuss your specific 5G use cases and requirements. We’ll help you design the optimal architecture for your deployment scenario and provide detailed technical specifications.

Pilot Deployment: Start with a pilot deployment to validate performance and integration requirements. Our rapid provisioning capabilities enable quick pilot setup, and our engineer-to-engineer support ensures smooth implementation.

Production Planning: Develop a detailed production deployment plan that includes capacity planning, integration requirements, and operational procedures. Our team provides guidance throughout this process based on experience with similar telecom deployments.

Migration Support: If you’re currently using public cloud infrastructure for 5G testing or development, we provide migration credits and technical assistance to help transition to production-ready private infrastructure.

The telecommunications industry stands at an inflection point where infrastructure choices made today will determine competitive positioning for years to come. By choosing OpenStack-powered private cloud infrastructure for private 5G core deployment, operators gain the performance, control, and economic advantages necessary to build profitable, scalable 5G services.

The combination of proven OpenStack technology, purpose-built telecom hardware, and expert support creates the foundation for successful private 5G deployments. Whether you’re deploying your first private 5G network or scaling existing services, OpenMetal’s platform provides the infrastructure capabilities that modern telecom operators require.

For more information about our hosted private cloud solutions and how they support 5G core deployments, explore our platform capabilities and cloud networking features designed specifically for telecom applications. Take the next step toward infrastructure that supports your 5G ambitions while providing the operational control and cost predictability that sustainable telecom business models require.