Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a virtual network element that includes a plurality of virtual machine modules configured to process a plurality of control packets in a virtualized telecommunication network. A classifier module is configured to receive telecommunications traffic that includes the plurality of control packets and a plurality of data packets, to separate the plurality of control plane data from the at least one data packet, and to forward the plurality of control packets to selected ones of the plurality of virtual machine modules. A forwarding device, coupled to the classifier module and separate from the plurality of virtual machine modules, is configured to forward the plurality of data packets in the virtualized telecommunication network. Other embodiments are disclosed.