Yazıcı, VolkanKozat, U.Sunay, Mehmet Oğuz2015-11-192015-11-192014-111558-1896http://hdl.handle.net/10679/1156https://doi.org/10.1109/MCOM.2014.6957146Due to copyright restrictions, the access to the full text of this article is only available via subscription.The tremendous growth in wireless Internet use is showing no signs of slowing down. Existing cellular networks are starting to be insufficient in meeting this demand, in part due to their inflexible and expensive equipment as well as complex and non-agile control plane. Software-defined networking is emerging as a natural solution for next generation cellular networks as it enables further network function virtualization opportunities and network programmability. In this article, we advocate an all-SDN network architecture with hierarchical network control capabilities to allow for different grades of performance and complexity in offering core network services and provide service differentiation for 5G systems. As a showcase of this architecture, we introduce a unified approach to mobility, handoff, and routing management and offer connectivity management as a service (CMaaS). CMaaS is offered to application developers and over-the-top service providers to provide a range of options in protecting their flows against subscriber mobility at different price levels.engrestrictedAccessarticle521100034603640001110.1109/MCOM.2014.6957146Mobility management (mobile radio)Software radioTelecommunication network routing2-s2.0-84915751455