Abstract
The advent of 5G and the design of its architecture has become possible
because of the previous individual scientific works and standardization
efforts on cloud computing and network softwarization. Software-defined
Networking and Network Function Virtualization started separately to
find their convolution into 5G network architecture. Then, the ongoing
design of the future beyond 5G (B5G) and 6G network architecture cannot
overlook the pivotal inputs of different independent standardization
efforts about autonomic networking, service-based communication systems,
and multi-access edge computing. This article provides the design and
the characteristics of an agent-based, softwarized, and intelligent
architecture, which coherently condenses and merges the independent
proposed architectural works by different standardization working groups
and bodies. This novel work is a helpful means for the design and
standardization process of the future 5G and 6G network architecture.