Verizon is planning to launch a fully virtualized 5G network core in the next one to two years, a move that the operator said will shift its 5G NR deployment from a "non standalone" design to the "standalone" design.

"With the next-generation 5G core network, we expect that to be fully virtualized from day one," said Verizon's Bill Stone in comments during the Brooklyn 5G Summit event in New York. He said that move would allow Verizon to implement 5G technologies, including network slicing.

In separate comments to Light Reading, Verizon's Mike Haberman explained that the operator is working to launch a "standalone" 5G core in the next one to two years. "5G will have its own core; it will be a new design," he explained.

Haberman said that Verizon's initial mobile 5G markets rely on the operator's existing 4G IMS core network. That's because, like most operators, Verizon initially launched a "non standalone" 5G network design in order to quickly launch commercial services. The "non standalone" design uses an existing 4G network to handle tasks including authentication and handoffs, while the actual radio access network (RAN) makes use of the faster 5G NR specification.

Haberman said that Verizon hopes a standalone 5G core will become available for the carrier to launch in one to two years. Verizon, like most other US wireless network operators, relies on the likes of Ericsson and Nokia for its equipment. Verizon in 2009 announced that Nokia would supply its 4G LTE IMS core. Neither Stone nor Haberman disclosed the vendor for Verizon's 5G core.

Stone discussed Verizon's 5G core network plans as part of a broader presentation on Verizon's shift from 4G to 5G. And he cautioned that the operator is still in the early stage of that transition. "These are the very beginnings. It's going to evolve and continue to improve," he said.

"Stone addressed criticism of Verizon's initial mobile 5G launch markets. He said similar concerns were raised during Verizon's shift from 2G to 3G, and from 3G to 4G. "At each point, when we were going through a transition, there was always a great deal of skepticism," he said.

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Further, Stone cautioned against unduly raising expectations for 5G. "The potential to overhype and underdeliver on the 5G promise is a temptation that the whole industry must resist," he said.

However, earlier in his presentation, Stone proclaimed that "5G is a dramatic leap forward."

Stone and other Verizon executives this week also offered a few noteworthy tidbits related to Verizon's 5G rollout efforts:

— Mike Dano, Editorial Director, 5G & Mobile Strategies, Light Reading | @mikeddano