6G • Core Network
In-Band Network Telemetry (INT)
Real-Time Packet-Level Microsecond Telemetry Embedding
Network monitoring technology where switches and routers insert internal latency, queue depth, and path information directly into live user packets.
Technical Explanation
Legacy monitoring tools (SNMP, ping) are too slow to catch transient micro-bursts and bufferbloat in 6G networks. In-Band Network Telemetry (INT) utilizes programmable P4 data planes to stamp internal switch queue lengths, ingress/egress timestamps, and buffer occupancy directly into packet headers as they traverse the core. The egress gateway strips the telemetry telemetry and feeds real-time AI optimizers to re-route traffic before congestion impacts users.
Key Functions
- Stamps queue lengths and timestamps directly into packet headers at line rate
- Detects micro-burst congestion and bufferbloat lasting only microseconds
- Provides complete, unalterable hop-by-hop latency visibility for every packet
- Feeds real-time closed-loop AI slice controllers without synthetic probe overhead
Specifications
IETF RFC 9350 In-Band Telemetry, P4.org INT Specification v2.1
Interfaces
P4 Programmable PipelineTelemetry Ingestion SinkNWDAF Stream
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