RINA in 5G networks

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Implementing RINA in 5G
networks
Kevin Smith, Vodafone R&D
7th International Workshop on the Recursive InterNetwork Architecture
(RINA 2020)

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What is 5G?

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A multi-trillion dollar revenue opportunity unlocking new
business-to-business monetisation scenarios by leveraging
partner ecosystems that benefit from a more agile
orchestration of converged networks with decoupled and
independently scalable virtualised network functions and
operations exposed via RESTful APIs in a Service-Based
Architecture to deliver ultra low-latency reliable
communications that realise the Industry 4.0 industrial
Internet in parallel with Smart Cities populated by gigabit
bandwidth citizens driving connected vehicles on the same
roads as autonomous vehicles constantly in control of every
aspect of their lives due to massive deployment of the
‘always on’ IoT Edge network controlled by intent-based SDN

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Physical radio improvements.
20 February 2020 5
Millimetre wave frequencies
Short range, very high bandwidth
Massive MIMO
~10x capacity increase
FD MIMO Beamforming
Extends coverage, can be tuned
in three dimensions
Flexible and scalable
scheduling
Greater spectrum efficiency
than LTE
Greater energy efficiency
Only transmit when needed
5x increase in carrier bandwidth
Increases capacity and speed
7x transmission interval
improvement over LTE
140μs

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The clean-slate challenge: IP is ‘baked in’

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The investigation goal:
Replace this stack

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Approach Performance overheads Congestion control Prototype complexity
DIF atop PHY Best Best Harder
Unstructured PDU Removes IP header Removes need for TCP CC Medium-harder
Unstructured PDU in UDP/IP Minimal Minimal Medium-easier
Network Slice Minimal Minimal Easier
VPN No benefit VPN uses TCP CC Easier
Benefits potential

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Some example DIF atop PHY building blocks:
5G (or LTE) PCIe
module
Raspberry Pi
Programmable baseband
(Real-Time Operating system)
Mini PCIe base
shield
Antenna
Programmable
Kernel network stack Development/distribution
Software-Defined Radio
Terminal Radio access network
Hardware
Software
Non-IP network
architecture

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Also need:
• A test licence
• Prototype use cases
• A way to compare various performance metrics
• Developers!

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Scaling up to the macro network
• A major consideration is ‘fronthaul’: moving data from base station to radio
• eCPRI can encapsulate generic data within Ethernet frames
• Would this be appropriate for Shim DIF over Ethernet?
*RRH = Remote Radio Head
*eCPRI = Enhanced Common Public Radio Interface, ref
http://www.cpri.info/downloads/eCPRI_v_1_0_2017_08_22.pdf

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Potential venues for work
• ETSI NIN ‘Non-IP Networking’
• EU calls
• Open TIP (Telecoms Infrastructure Project)

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Thanks!
kevin.smith@vodafone.com