An SDN controller configures a network element as a service edge. The SDN controller configures a service flow associated with a service to receive a required service treatment. The SDN controller configures an entry point to add routing tags on a set of packets associated with the service. The set of packets are routed in accordance with the routing tags. The required service treatment is applied at the service edge and the tags are removed from the set of packets, which are then forwarded to the network.