Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for placement of User Plane Functions (UPFs) on one or more nodes and assigning Distributed Units (DUs) to the UPF-hosting nodes of a 5G network slice. A method, according to one implementation, includes the step of obtaining a network topology map portraying a network that includes at least a plurality of components of a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a plurality of eligible nodes capable of connecting the components to the Internet. The method also includes the step of creating a tree graph from the network topology map. The tree graph includes a plurality of branches, where each branch represents the lowest cost path between a respective eligible node and a selected one of the plurality of components. In addition, the method includes selecting a group of the eligible nodes that collectively are capable of connecting the plurality of components to the Internet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for placement of User Plane Functions (UPFs) on one or more nodes and assigning Distributed Units (DUs) to the UPF-hosting nodes of a 5G network slice. A method, according to one implementation, includes the step of obtaining a network topology map portraying a network that includes at least a plurality of components of a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a plurality of eligible nodes capable of connecting the components to the Internet. The method also includes the step of creating a tree graph from the network topology map. The tree graph includes a plurality of branches, where each branch represents the lowest cost path between a respective eligible node and a selected one of the plurality of components. In addition, the method includes selecting a group of the eligible nodes that collectively are capable of connecting the plurality of components to the Internet.