As radio access network (RAN) architecture evolves and evolved packet core deployments get more distributed, there is an opportunity to provide significant optimizations of latency and processing. Certain embodiments can provide these and other benefits using vertical aggregation of radio access network and evolved packet core functionalities. A method can include operating a network element as a per-user-equipment control plane entity. The method can also include operating the network element as a first user plane entity (for example, a per-user-equipment user plane entity). The method can further include operating the network element as a second user plane entity. The method can additionally include operating the network element as a per-cell control plane entity. The method can also include operationally interconnecting the per-user-equipment control plane entity, the first user plane entity, the second user plane entity, and the per-cell control plane entity via interfaces.