METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIRTUALIZED NETWORK FUNCTION SCALING THAT IS INITIATED BY NETWORK MANAGEMENT AND/OR ELEMENT MANAGEMENT

A method and apparatus may include transmitting a scaling request. The scaling request comprises a request for virtualized network function expansion or virtualized network function contraction. The scaling request is transmitted to a second network node. A first domain is directed to application level details. A second domain is directed to virtualization level details. The scaling request comprises: (1) a relative target capacity that is generic to both the first domain and the second domain, (2) an absolute target capacity that is specific to the first domain, or (3) a relative target capacity that is specific to virtualized network function level targets. The method may also include receiving a notification that a virtualization network function has been updated based on the transmitted scaling request.