Virtualisation - A new workstream for the SCF from Mark Grayson (Cisco)

1. New SCF work stream: Virtualisation of the Small Cell RAN: Business, Technology, Architecture Small Cell Forum June, 2014

2. • Virtualization technology has emerged as a cornerstone of the IT industries as it has transformed the way the IT infrastructure is deployed • Virtualization is the foundation of cloud computing and forms the base for offering cloud services • Essential for every organization to be aware of the virtualization technology and its benefit Source: A Survey on Virtualization Service Providers, Security Issues, Tools and Future Trends, IJCA, May 2013 • “I often get questions from analysts regarding how small cells fits together with Cloud RAN, so I believe that SCF tackling virtualisation and small cells is well timed and definitely needed.” – Source: Gordon Mansfield Recognized trend of accelerating adoption of virtualization 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

3. • Is there any divergence between how virtualization is viewed from a macro RAN perspective versus a small cell perspective? • What are the real business benefits of virtualization in the RAN? Do benefits apply equally to macro and small cell deployment use cases? • Can virtualization be used to dynamically optimize costs versus performance? • Are current small cell architectures well suited to virtualization/cloudification? • Are there unique attributes of small cell transport that impact fronthaul considerations? (e.g., synchronization, latency, sharing) • Will virtualization enable enhanced flexibility in the small cell RAN, e.g., physical layer characteristics (bands, waveforms, …) • Can virtualization deliver a phased roadmap, e.g., aligned with longer- term 5G directions • How do we ensure virtualization supports innovation across a multi- vendor ecosystem? Key Questions that the Operator Group would like the forum to consider 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

4. 1. Work Stream Rationale 2. Virtualized RAN investigations 3. Proposal Agenda 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

5. 1. Work Stream Rationale 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

6. • Our observation is that vocabulary is currently ambiguous • Centralization versus Cloudification • Virtualization versus Resource Sharing • Decomposition versus hardware-software separation • We plan to re-use the use-case definition approach leveraged in earlier releases to align understanding across all SCF working groups, refine the problem statement(s) and drive prioritization of these different use-cases • Q. What lessons can we learn from you and the wider industry? A quick disclaimer on terminology 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

7. • SCF and NET WG already scoping out re-use of Network Function Virtualization to address scale down use case of rural/remote in Release 5 timeframe • Q. Does this address sufficiently the business rationale for virtualization? Virtualized/Cloudified Small Cell Infrastructure 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013 Small Cell Small Cell Small Gateway Small Gateway Small Cell Management System Small Cell Management System Scope of NET WG Release 5 Virtualization Discussions for rural and remote Virtualization scope not currently being addressed

8. • Virtualization no longer just about compute resources, but virtualization of transmission networks, network functions, network management, spectrum, radio access technologies • Recognize that virtualization/cloudification techniques now being reapplied to eNB base station functionality • Increased drive towards virtualization to address a number of use cases, including • Scalability (scale up/down) • Improved resource utilization/sharing (lower peak-to-mean) • Multi-tenancy (Multi-carrier, carrier/enterprise) • Enhanced resource co-ordination (between small cell and macro and between small cells) • Multi-point capability • Co-located core network virtualized functions • Q. How is broader industry handling this level of divergence? Virtualization trends impacting Small Cell (and other) RAN Solutions 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

9. RPH BKH DEP NET MKT IOT Small Cell Virtualization – a complex issue requiring key competencies 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013 • RPH: Analysis of different virtualization decompositions (versus small cell radio performance) • BKH: Small Cell backhaul constraints impacting virtualization • DEP: Deployment benefits of small cell virtualization, data center hosting options • MKT: Small cell virtualization business cases • NET: Network Function Virtualization aspects • IOT: Multi-vendor virtualized environments

10. 2. Virtualized RAN investigations 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

11. Alternative Virtualized RAN Decompositions (NGMN) 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013 PDCP RLC MAC PDCP RLC MAC QAM+ Antenna mapping QAM+ Antenna mapping Resource Mapping Resource Mapping FECFEC MAC-PHY Fronthaul Split I: Soft Bit Fronthaul Split II: Subframe data Fronthaul User ProcessingUser Processing IFFT + Cyclic Prefix IFFT + Cyclic Prefix Split III: Subframe Symbol Fronthaul P/S CPRI encode P/S CPRI encodeSplit IV: CPRI or Split IV’: Compressed CPRI Fronthaul Cell ProcessingCell Processing S1 Backhaul ←Xn→

12. • Cloud-RAN is based on CPRI or Compressed CPRI • Requires lambda or OTN service with very tight bounds on latency • Incompatible with current GbE packet switched “last mile” networks that are preferred approach for deploying today’s small cells • Q. How interoperable will the systems be, e.g., compared to SCF plugfest success? • Q. Will current C-RAN conclusion deliver on aims of Small Cell Forum? • Accelerate small cell adoption - seems requirement for Lambda/OTN service to each small cell site will likely hinder mass adoption; or • Change the shape of mobile networks – seems there is no revolution as the innovation in the small cell ecosystem will be have to continually address the centralization versus distribution issue (and which may consequently hinder small cell adoption) Current observations regarding Cloud RAN investigations 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

13. • Is there any divergence between how virtualization is viewed from a macro RAN perspective versus a small cell perspective? • What are the real business benefits of virtualization in the RAN? Do benefits apply equally to macro and small cell deployment use cases? • Can virtualization be used to dynamically optimize costs versus performance? • Are current small cell architectures well suited to virtualization/cloudification? • Are there unique attributes of small cell transport that impact fronthaul considerations? (e.g., synchronization, latency, sharing) • Will virtualization enable enhanced flexibility in the small cell RAN, e.g., physical layer characteristics (bands, waveforms, …) • Can virtualization deliver a phased roadmap, e.g., aligned with longer- term 5G directions • How do we ensure virtualization supports innovation across a multi- vendor ecosystem? Key Questions that the Operator Group would like the forum to consider 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013

15. MKT RPH DEPBKH NET Small Cell Virtualization – a complex issue 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013 1. Business Case depends on 2. Enhanced radio performances which needs to be 3. Offset by deployment costs 5. Which need to be supported by system architecture 4. Which will likely be driven by fronthaul considerations

16. STUDY PHASESTUDY PHASE EXECUTION PHASEEXECUTION PHASE Virtualization Work Plan 13/06/2014 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2013 Kick off, Option Analysis Small Cell Virtualization Definition Backhaul/Fronthaul constraints Backhaul Recommendations for virtualized Small Cells Data Center Hosting Options Deployment Recommendations for virtualized Small Cells (Parallel R5 NFV Aspects of SC Gateway and Management) Architectural aspects of virtualized small cell infra Business case analysis Finalized Business case Multi-vendor aspects for virtualized small cells RPH BKH DEP NET MKT IOT OG Requirements capture Phasing and prioritization

17. Virtualization Work Stream Kick-Off • Accelerate scope definition leveraging use cases: centralization, virtualization, resource sharing, …. • Capturing common aspects and different characteristics • What is out of scope (or potentially out of scope) • Residential, 3G, ….? • Timelines – what is achievable? Market relevance? • Do timelines drive a preference towards MAC-PHY? • Eventual target or step on roadmap towards 5G? • Terminology/nomenclature – need to quickly align on common understandings • Q. What feedback on timing and relevance do we need to consider?

18. www.smallcellforum.org

Virtualisation - A new workstream for the SCF from Mark Grayson (Cisco)

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