The paradigm shift towards RAN virtualization and the disaggregation of RAN functional components create a new X-Haul concept (including fronthaul, midhaul and backhaul). New fronthaul requirements for the transport network are significantly more stringent, including higher data rates, reliability, low latency, and synchronization compared to the backhaul. In this Cambridge Wireless presentation, Anthony Magee discussed the reality and vision for X-Haul transport networks to utilize heterogeneous transmission links, such as fiber or wireless to interconnect remote radios, data centers for edge compute processing and mobile core networks.

1. O-RAN evolution, innovation and integration for 5G use cases
May 12, 2022 – Anthony Magee
X-Haul: towards an integrated 5G transport network architecture

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O-RAN and associated technology/features hype
eCPRI
C-RAN
O-RAN(next gen)
SmartNIC
O-RAN today
viewpoint 1
Ultra Low
Latency
(1ms)
UE
location
O-RAN today
viewpoint 3
O-RAN today
viewpoint 2
HW Acceleration

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O-RAN and associated technology/features hype
eCPRI
C-RAN
O-RAN(next gen)
SmartNIC
O-RAN today
viewpoint 1
Ultra Low
Latency
(1ms)
UE
location
O-RAN today
viewpoint 3
O-RAN today
viewpoint 2
HW Acceleration
My presentation today aims to discuss these matters: architecture / use cases / identify improvement areas
Focus area: intersection of transport and RAN

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Aggregation
network
Radio
heads
Sectors
CU
L3
CSGW
Aggregation
UPF EPC
L1
L1
L1
Mobile architecture evolution and migration
Aggregation
network
Radio
heads
Sectors
CU
L3
DU
L1
DU
L2
CSGW / DU hub Aggregation
UPF EPC
L1
L1
L1
BBU
Backhaul and aggregation
Fronthaul
Backhaul and aggregation
BBU with CSGW at Cell site
O-RAN with DU at cell site – rural macrocells
Backhaul
Fronthaul
Backhaul
O-RAN with DU more centralized long-term for dense urban
Typical brownfield MNO 5G builds
Upgrades to
10/25Gbit/s
Greenfield challenger 5G operators
Cell site
boundary
Cell site
boundary

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6
Aggregation
network
Radio
heads
Sectors
CU
L3
CSGW
Aggregation
UPF EPC
L1
L1
L1
Mobile architecture evolution and migration
Aggregation
network
Radio
heads
Sectors
CU
L3
DU
L1
DU
L2
CSGW/ DU Hub Aggregation
UPF EPC
L1
L1
L1
BBU
Backhaul and aggregation
Fronthaul
Backhaul and aggregation
BBU with CSGW at Cell site
O-RAN with DU at cell site – rural macrocells
Backhaul
Fronthaul
Backhaul
O-RAN with DU more centralized long-term for dense urban
Typical brownfield MNO 5G builds
Upgrades to
10/25Gbit/s
Greenfield challenger 5G operators
Cell site
boundary
Cell site
boundary

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Wholesale transport network services
Service
components
Progressive service offering
L2/3 switched/aggregated
Sync aaS (PTP), security aaS (L2/3 encr.)
Network slicing SDN layer (TSN?)
L2/3
Footprint, premises
Dark fiber (unmanaged)
Dark fiber (managed)
Spectrum (flexible or fixed)
Active wavelength
Optical
/
Layer
1
Sync aaS (optical timing channel), security aaS (Layer 1 encryption)
Edge compute
NFV aaS
SaaS
Orchestration
Hosting
Property
Subscription or
perpetual licenses
Compute
Location
Energy consumption
Security
Sync
Availability
Latency
Bandwidth
(throughput?)
SLA
demarcation
/
metering
Automate

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O-RAN – vRAN / cloud / x86 dependency
…and O-RAN technology pendulum
Sync
X86 edge compute
Transport
vDU: Layer 1 / Layer 2
Sync
Transport
Physical BBU
Legacy RAN O-RAN today
Sync
X86 edge compute
Transport
vDU: Layer 1 / Layer 2
FEC FPGA
SmartNIC
Rebalancing HW/SW resources and implementation methods
HW acceleration now a trend. Not generic COTS/x86. Needs very
specific compute platforms. Supply chain and form factor issues
Edge compute
Transport
Virtualized Layer 2
L1
O-RAN next-gen
Sync
Disaggregation of the RAN
Integration in the infrastructure
FHGW for
CPRIoEthernet

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DU hosting is a complex challenge
RU:DU ratio vs. CPU cores Multiple compute resources Duplication of functions
Resilience concerns Operational challenges
Inefficient cost structure
Form factor
Dedicated RU-DU relationships
Maintenance of DU impacts RUs. C-RAN originally
envisaged BBU Pooling - FHGW
4-5 rack units of equipment
32 cores of Icelake per server / 3RUs 3 servers per Macro Sync/FEC/FH/MHS NICs per server
So what is the value of O-RAN?
For the record – ADVA does believe in O-RAN

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C-RAN / O-RAN refresher
Relaxes fronthaul bit rates
Smaller/simpler/lower-power Edge
for RAN densification
Improved coordination
Operational gains – virtualization
C-RAN
BBU pooling gain
O-RAN
Vendor diversity – best-of-breed functions

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MNOs vs. private networks
High-level trends in mobile use case
MNOs – Public services, macro networks
Some small cell densification for coverage
Higher speeds
Mobile broadband
Enterprise private / NHNs – machine to machine
Latency / time-sensitive
More accurate
Secure
Innovation
Interaction with things …
Price / scale / volume
Restricted feature sets
Baggage – legacy vs. new entrants
Speed vs. coverage Latency and precision

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MNOs vs. private networks
High-level trends in mobile use cases
Private 5G needs specialist vendors, openness, ability to work with multiple vendors and integration support

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80%+ Internal space = Private 5G opportunity
Growing revenues through private 5G
Market opportunity

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O-RAN innovation areas
Low-latency traffic
UE tracking
RIC / xAPPS
Flexible architecture

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Solutions integration – private 5G with COLT
CU
DU UPF 5GC
FHGW
FSP150 XG418
CSR
FSP150 / TIP DCSG
Local break-out
GNSS
Private 5G campus
Connector – Hosting/orchestration of vDU/CU containers
FSP150 eCPRI fronthaul and midhaul switch / CSR
3rd Party
5G RU
3rd Party
DU/CU/UPF/5GC
OSA 5405
Outdoor GNSS
Learning and proving ground – springboard to an exciting new O-RAN platform … coming soon!
Example O-RAN platform
Ensemble Connector COTS x86
COTS x86

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Openness for private 5G and ADVA integration lab
Open optical transport
DU CU 5GC
Low-latency packet networking
Ultra-precise timing
VM/container hosting
VNFs, cloud-native apps
Management and control
Pre-integrated, managed solution
RU Core
Backhaul
CE/optical
Midhaul
Ethernet (F1)
eCPRI/Eth (Fx)
DU CU
Fronthaul
Management and orchestration
O-RAN labs in Poland and the UK

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UK 5G DU-Volution
High-level project goals
● UK 5G DU-Volution partner investment is significant, benefiting UK Plc, FRANC and the wider UK 5G program in return for a DCMS investment
● Creating highly skilled recruitment across the UK, south to north, reflecting UK government Levelling-Up agenda
● Establishing a UK-focused mobile solution delivering supply chain diversity
● Multi-platform compute delivering choice to the O-RAN market whilst reducing vendor lock-in
● Increase potential for UK vendors to join a truly open O-RAN platform
● Demonstrating innovation from UK-located companies
Creating UK solutions supporting supply chain diversity

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Evolution, innovation and integration
ADVA O-RAN goals
Disaggregation of the RAN
But integration of the infrastructure
Disaggregation of HW/SW
But integration of the end-to-end solution
Expansion of supply chain options
But reduced complexity
Improvement of power consumption, form factor
and more control of overall cost of ownership
Edge compute
Transport
Virtualized Layer 2
L1
O-RAN next-gen
Sync
Customer experience
Vendor selection freedom
Limit infrastructure churn
Advantage from SW CI/CD cycles
Simplified vendor management
Reduce risk, simpler solutions
Efficient operations, sustainability

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Multi-vendor
Multi-vendor O-RAN
ADVA private 5G – integrated solution
Pre-integrated private 5G solution
• Multi-vendor (RU/CU/RIC/core)
• Open by design – true O-RAN
• Underpinned by carrier-class DU
• Size/scale options in roadmap
System integrator value add
• Network with timing
• Cloud/hosting
• User devices
• Security
• Apps – industry focus
Grand
Master Clock
GNSS
SMO
ADVA orchestration
& management
ADVA timing &
synchronization
Radio
(RU)
ADVA
distributed
unit (DU)
Centralized
unit (CU)
CORE
5G core
(5GC)

20. Thank you
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Supported by: FRANC 5G DU-Volution