A network core with a software defined networking (“SDN”) controller is provided to control routing of traffic within the network and between the network and the traffic destination. The SDN controller is merged with existing 3rd Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) network architecture to enable service deliveries via open application programming interfaces (“APIs”) and move the network core towards an all internet protocol (“IP”), cloud based, and software driven telecom network. The SDN controller can work with, or take the place of policy and charging rules function (“PCRF”) network elements, so that policies such as quality of service and traffic management and routing can be synchronized and managed end to end.