How Precise Connection Technology Shapes the Future Network Architecture

Future Network Core Requirements

The future network must improve its own capabilities (deterministic transport, inherent security), extend these capabilities to both ends for open application integration, and feature an enhanced control plane with a simplified forwarding plane. The following sections describe how these requirements can be realized.

Precise Connection Technology

Traditional best‑effort Internet forwarding cannot satisfy the deterministic QoS needs of emerging services. Precise connection provides flexible, plugin‑based forwarding that selects the exact slice and resources required for each business.

Horizontal Design

Intelligent plug‑in modules enable precise slice selection; the precise path is computed and deployed only at the two ends, while intermediate forwarding nodes remain stateless.

Vertical Design

An intelligent control plane offers precise business identification, resource control, path control, and quality assurance, while the data plane delivers multi‑layer flexible forwarding.

Precise Connection Architecture

Future networks must support heterogeneous QoS requirements (bandwidth, latency, jitter, loss, isolation). A single IP best‑effort model is insufficient, so a flexible, plugin‑based forwarding architecture is adopted, sharing the same physical infrastructure across services.

Hierarchical Flexible Precise Connection

Based on the OSI model, layers L1‑L3 provide distinct connection services with different characteristics, allowing precise selection of appropriate technologies or technology combinations for each service.

Precise Connection Control Technology

Four components form the control stack: precise business identification, precise network resource control, precise path control, and precise quality assurance. Together they match business QoS demands with the optimal connection technique.

Computing Network (算力网络)

In 5G and beyond, compute resources are pushed to the edge, forming a distributed, heterogeneous compute fabric. The network perceives, schedules, and orchestrates these resources, creating an ICT‑fusion service that pools compute, storage, and networking.

Horizontal Perspective

Intelligent endpoints host compute; middle nodes remain stateless. Plugins adapt compute applications to network resources, with edge nodes (e.g., PE, DC GW) sensing compute status and executing orchestration.

Vertical Perspective

The intelligent control plane abstracts compute perception, scheduling, and orchestration, while the data plane enforces dual constraints of routing and compute.

Computing Network Control Plane

Three models exist:

Centralized : A global orchestrator collects compute, storage, and network state, then dispatches optimal forwarding and routing paths.

Distributed : Edge nodes register compute status locally; a distributed routing protocol (IGP/BGP) propagates this information for local decision‑making.

Hybrid : Combines centralized interaction for global view with distributed mechanisms for fast convergence, balancing deployment cost and latency.

Computing Network Forwarding and Routing Strategy

Routing must consider both network and compute/storage constraints, encapsulating and decapsulating data accordingly. The forwarding plane routes traffic based on compute function anchors rather than merely IP destinations.

Network Inherent Security

Future 6G/5.0 scenarios (vehicular networks, remote healthcare, industrial IoT) demand higher security. Inherent security embeds trusted capabilities within the network layer, with an intelligent control plane that detects threats via big data and AI, and a data plane that enforces trusted communication.

Horizontal Security

Endpoints host intelligent plugins that establish and terminate trusted communications; intermediate nodes forward transparently.

Vertical Security

The control plane provides real‑time threat detection, large‑scale security posture assessment, and risk prediction, while the data plane integrates trusted communication into a unified protocol.

Conclusion

The paper analyzes future network demands and proposes three visions—global interconnection, compute‑network fusion, and precise networking. It introduces new design principles (horizontal service‑oriented end‑to‑end, vertical slim‑waist control plane) and presents a reference architecture that builds on traditional Internet design while addressing emerging QoS and security challenges.