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COMMUNICATIONS & NETWORKS
THE FUTURE IS O-RAN
Phil Evans, Business Development Director - Connectivity at TÜV SÜD, discusses the role of Radio Access Networks (RAN) - now and in the future
5
G networks enable new applications that can transform industries and economies by unlocking a broad range of opportunities through the optimisation of service delivery, decision-making, and end- user experience. This is because it delivers faster download speeds with reduced latency, so there is more capacity to connect billions of devices globally. Technologies, such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) all rely on the speed and reliability of 5G networks. However, the potential of 5G could be slowed down by a lack of vendor choice as mobile network operators rely on specialised radio access and networking equipment with tightly integrated proprietary software to deliver services. High costs, limited flexibility, and constrained vendor choice is therefore prompting them to shift away from traditional systems toward more open, standards-based, software-centric virtual platforms. There are three main points of difference that set 5G aside from 4G. These are: • Speed – 5G is much faster, with speeds at least 5-10 times faster than those of 4G. • Greater capacity – 5G allows thousands of devices in a small area to be connected at the same time. This is increasingly important as everything in our lives becomes connected to the internet of things – for example, cars, clothes, buildings, etc. • Low latency – The reduction in the time between instructing a device to perform an action and that action being completed means that 5G is also more responsive than 4G. 5G enables data to be transmitted and received with virtually no delay, which means that 5G can support all sorts of time critical services and applications.
5G’s high bandwidth capability enables a greater density of sensors, meaning more data – and with machine learning, greater and quicker insights and analysis. It can therefore deliver many benefits, including higher flexibility, lower cost, and shorter lead times for factory floor production reconfiguration and layout changes. In December 2021 the UK government and UK mobile network operators announced a joint goal for 35 per cent of the UK’s mobile
network traffic to be carried over open and interoperable RAN architectures (commonly known as O-RAN) by 2030. The Government also increased funding from £30million to £51million to support projects trialling O-RAN and next-generation technologies. Mobile network operators now have their sights set on O-RAN as they must replace or upscale existing equipment to deliver 5G service, giving them the opportunity to adopt O-RAN architectures.
The current RAN architecture comprises a remote radio unit (RRU or RU) at the top of a cell tower that communicates with a baseband unit (BBU) located at the tower’s bottom. While these traditional systems have worked well for mobile network operators, they have drawbacks. Making any upgrade or change to the wireless network requires replacing physical hardware throughout the network - a costly, manual, and time- consuming process. Proprietary equipment also locks operators into the vendor that originally supplied them.
Virtualising the O-RAN and replacing proprietary interfaces with standards-based interfaces enables equipment interoperability and multivendor O-RAN deployments. This gives network operators more flexibility to pick and choose among best-of-breed solution providers. By opening the market, currently dominated by a limited number of vendors, to new suppliers, O-RAN can not only lower costs but also prompt greater innovation through competition, as well as allow operators to avoid restricted vendors.
One of the most compelling value propositions of O-RAN architectures is their potential to lower the total cost of ownership of networks. By allowing operators to aggregate baseband functionality using a single virtualised BBU to support multiple radios, O-RAN reduces overall hardware cost and enables a smaller, simpler, and more energy-efficient installation footprint. Also, as
6 JULY/AUGUST 2024 | PROCESS & CONTROL
they allow operators to use software to push out network functions and intelligent automation, virtual architectures can speed the roll-out of new services, instead of having to rip out and replace whole physical systems. Virtual architectures can also “future-proof” investments in the physical network. The ability to change out individual O-RAN components with off-the-shelf hardware from any vendor can improve reduce costs and downtime for system scaling and maintenance. Benefits of O-RAN include:
• Improved connectivity and coverage - This is vital for supporting a wide range of devices and sensors used in processing environments. • Reduced costs and increased efficiency -
the flexibility to mix and match hardware and software from different vendors should result in cost savings and operational efficiency. • Enhanced flexibility and scalability - network infrastructures can be adapted to meet changing operational demands, so network components can easily be added or upgraded.
• IoT and Automation – O-RAN supports the high bandwidth and low latency requirements necessary for seamless IoT and automated systems integration.
• Customisation – O-RAN enables tailored network solutions for the unique requirements of different industrial environments. • Enhanced security – O-RAN enables more granular control over network components and configurations.
The next big technological shift will be AI-RAN
(Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network), where AI and machine learning (ML) technologies will be integrated within the RAN. AI-RAN will offer manufacturers numerous benefits, including enhanced operational efficiency, improved predictive maintenance, optimised resource allocation, energy savings, and enhanced security.
TÜV SÜD
www.tuvsud.com/uk
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