F5 is tightening its grip on Kubernetes with a pair of services designed to support container-based network functions (CNFs) for operators deploying a 5G standalone core. The vendor today revealed Big-IP Service Proxy for Kubernetes (SPK), which will be commercially available before the end of the year, and Carrier-Grade Aspen Mesh, which is available now.

Big-IP SPK “supports traffic management for both 4G and 5G signaling protocols, which is required to smooth the transition from 4G to 5G. And, Aspen Mesh brings packet capture to the Kubernetes cluster, which is needed for troubleshooting and lawful intercept requirements,” an F5 spokesperson wrote in response to questions.

Both services “provide critical traffic management, control, security, and observability from the 5G core to the [virtualized radio access network] at the far edge — capabilities needed by service providers that are not natively supported by Kubernetes,” the spokesperson explained. 

F5 is positioning these Kubernetes-based services as a layer that network operators will require as they transition to 5G standalone cores, and it expects this architecture to gain momentum in vertical- and horizontal-stack approaches to network infrastructure. The two services form the foundation for F5’s new 5G portfolio, the company said.

“The horizontal stack allows [operators] to break vendor lock-in and select best of breed CNF vendors for the 5G core. They often build cloud-native infrastructure using Kubernetes from vendors like Red Hat, Wind River, VMware, and Robin.io,” and those platforms can be combined with services like SPK and Aspen Mesh, the spokesperson wrote.

F5 targets opportunities in vertical, horizontal atacks

A vertically integrated stack is more likely to be adopted by smaller operators that buy more comprehensive suites of software and services from a single vendor, and F5 is working with those vendors to provide the integrations necessary to make its capabilities available to those operators, according to the spokesperson. 

Big-IP SPK features support for 4G and 5G signaling protocols, a per-service secure proxy and Kubernetes cluster firewall, and automated Kubernetes service discovery and policy configuration, according to F5. Carrier-Grade Aspen Mesh supports traffic encryption between multi-vendor and multi-site network functions, CNF traffic visibility, and packet capture and inspection for troubleshooting.

“While there are alternative solutions from traditional networking equipment providers and signaling and service mesh vendors, based on market research and feedback from analysts, we don’t believe there are other container-based [services] that bring the necessary scale, performance, and observability needed by service providers,” the F5 spokesperson said. 

F5 unveiled the new services just two days after The Wall Street Journal reported that activist investor firm Elliott Management has taken a stake in the software company. The firm is notorious for buying large stakes in firms that it believes are underperforming on the stock market before it advocates for changes that it believes will increase the market value of companies it has targeted. The firm targeted AT&T in September 2019 and issued a scatching letter calling for swift and major changes at the company, including leadership changes and divestitures of lagging business units.

The new Kubernetes-based services from F5 are currently being tested by multiple operators, and one tier-one service provider has already committed to the commercial deployment of Big-IP SPK and Aspen Mesh in its 5G standalone core, according to the company spokesperson.