Intent-Based Networking: Current Advances, Open Challenges, and Future Directions

Abstract

5G and beyond networks aim at provisioning a variety of services with different characteristics that require complex network configuration operations, which increases the risk of human error. This brings the necessity for the design and implementation of a flexible and programmable architecture that allows for an easy and automated network configuration, thus paving the way for self-managing and self-optimizing networks. In this context, Intent-based Networking (IBN) is emerging as a novel approach that facilitates network management and automates the implementation of network operations required by applications. The aim is to use a simple declarative approach while unburdening applications to deal with technology-specific low-level networking directives.The objective of the paper is three folds: first reviewing the current advances in the IBN architecture and its building blocks; second discussing the open issues and challenges that still need to be addressed to further improve it and third presenting some future directions to overcome those challenges.