Transforming the Radio Access Network Mavenir’s Virtualized RAN
The traditional hardware-based approach to designing and deploying radio access networks (RAN) is no longer a viable solution for operators. Hardware is far too expensive with long development lifecycles that lead to vendor lock-in, making it nearly impossible for operators to keep pace with technology and demographic transitions, especially with 5G around the corner. 5G networks will support a much greater demand for data and massive amounts of new devices with reduced latency and increased reliability, all while operators face the requirement for decreased opex and capex with the continued downward pressure on ARPU. While 5G standards are still in development, operators need a flexible RAN in place for today’s 4G networks that is adaptive and responsive to evolving infrastructure needs. This evolved RAN architecture must incorporate web scale virtualization techniques with the ability to flex and adapt based on usage and coverage while providing expanded choices in the locations for baseband/element processing and optimized fronthaul.
The Disruptive Game Changer A 2018 Mavenir sponsored vRAN study demonstrates that operators moving to a Mavenir vRAN solution can save 37% in total cost of ownership (TCO) over a five-year period due to a 49% reduction in capex and a 31% annual reduction in opex (Figure 1). The Mavenir solution brings increased business agility, network elasticity, and dynamic RAN optimization and supports processing of the radio interface on COTS Intel processors—significantly reducing the TCO. Mavenir vRAN extends functional element virtualization to the edge of the network, and provides strategic differentiation by enabling remote radio units (RRUs) to interwork with the virtualized base band unit (vBBU) over ethernet fronthaul at a tenth of the bandwidth proprietary solutions require. The vBBU is designed to support multiple fronthaul architectures simultaneously and opens the door to previously excluded fronthaul transmission solutions. Centralized baseband processing enables advanced capabilities such as coordinated multipoint (CoMP), centralized scheduling, and interference management without the need to exchange information among many access nodes. This enables resource pooling and coordination of radio resources.
K E Y B E N E F I T S
• Dramatic Cost Reduction: Operators can save 49% in capex and 31% in opex
• Front Haul Reduction: 10x compared to CPRI
• Multiple functional splits: significantly expanding choices in network planning
• Increased Business Agility: provides network elasticity, flexibility and dynamic RAN optimization
With Mavenir vRAN, service providers can future-proof their networks because the remote radio units (RRUs) designed with software defined radio (SDR) capabilities support simple software upgrades—no more truck rolls and expensive hardware upgrades.
Figure 1- vRAN Savings
Mavenir 5G-ready OpenRAN vRAN Solution Description Mavenir’s vRAN approach centralizes the baseband processing in a cloud native vBBU with optimized fronthaul transmission between the RRU and the vBBU over ethernet in a standardized interface based on O-RAN (OpenRAN). The solution was developed to be 5G-ready from day 1 for a disaggregated RAN solution supporting various use cases and a standardized OAM interface based on NetConf/Yang data models. All Mavenir products use the same virtualization platform, which has been hardened commercially with many Tier-1 operators. The vRAN solution provides carrier aggregation (CA) to combine the fragmented spectrum of LTE (both FDD and TDD) in licensed and unlicensed bands (0.7 – 6 GHz), and supports the shared spectrum initiatives of CBRS and LAA to address increased capacity demands at hotspots and areas with high smartphone data usage. The highly modular software platform brings the benefits of cloud-based virtualization to 4G networks
and paves the way for 5G non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) implementations based on NR. Mavenir’s OpenRAN vRAN solution offers the following differentiation:
1. Open, standardized interfaces for a disaggregated RAN (3GPP + ORAN) a. Provide modular, end-to-end solutions for operator b. Break vendor dependence for operator
2. Wide range of 5G OpenRAN collaborators – RRH, Platform, Transport - to open ecosystem a. Interoperability and vendor independence
3. Solutions based on COTS hardware a. Flexibility in all layers to enable network slicing for 5G b. Accelerators for L1 are based on FPGAs
4. ONAP support -- NFV, SDN integrated into platform from day 1 a. Built on a decade of virtualization experience grown at Mavenir
5. 4G and 5G supported via same vRAN architecture & platform a. Dual interfaces (split-2, split-7) support b. Support for the vEPC/5G Core for LTE/NR with service-based architecture
6. Common architecture from management layer perspective for LTE and NR. a. EMS & OAM are 5G-ready b. Management and functional splits layers will help migration from 4G to 5G.
As part of the 5G-ready architecture, Mavenir’s vBBU is split into a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), enabling the solution to support various topologies and deployment modes, from macros, small cells and massive MIMO solutions all connected and controlled by a virtual centralized CU that can simultaneously accommodate and centrally manage resources across macros and small cells. The solution supports options for various use cases such as edge micro services and network slicing for 5G NR.
Mavenir’s flexible fronthaul (FH) is designed to support a variety of deployment configurations for the operators. Both lower layer split (O-RAN Split 7-based) and higher layer splits (3GPP F1-based) are supported. The O-RAN based Split 7 solution is optimized for performance and offers the following benefits:
• Centralized scheduling • Joint processing across sites (COMP) • Increased RAN virtualization, management, feature upgrades
The 3GPP based Split 2 solution is optimized for transport and offers the following advantages:
• Increased reduction in fronthaul requirements • Large latency tolerance • CP/UP decoupling/centralization • Secure midhaul due to PDCP ciphering being done at CU
Coupled with the RRU for radio access, the solution is exclusively based on network virtualization (NFV/SDN) for centralized baseband processing in the cloud (vCU). Network-wide centralization, coordination and scalability are just some of the benefits. The vCU is fully integrated with Mavenir’s CloudRange™ NFV management and organization (MANO) framework operating on standard open-hardware platforms (COTS). It empowers CSPs with highly efficient orchestration and control of VNF (virtualized network function) assets and helps deliver cost savings by including NFV infrastructure elements for traffic aggregation, load balancing and end-to-end service assurance with analytics, monitoring, and orchestration.
The vCU also incorporates self-organizing network (SON) capabilities for improved RAN performance, capacity, adaptive interference management, and efficient network load management functions.
Figure 3- Functional splits
Mavenir vRAN: Deployment Scenarios There is no need to wait for 5G to realize substantial capital and operating expense reductions, along with increased Gbps speed and enhanced QoS compared to the current 4G LTE environment. Mavenir products are designed for today’s networks, deployment scenarios, and use cases, with a clear and simple evolution path to 5G.
Network Densification Mavenir vRAN solutions feature a flexible radio infrastructure that adapts to usage patterns for improved coverage and enhanced user experiences. Wireless service providers can deliver extra capacity and coverage in rural or high data traffic areas, for an enhanced user experience.
Enterprise Customers vRAN solutions are neutral host ready and support multi-operator/multi-frequency use cases. The solution enables seamless wireless connectivity in small, medium and large business buildings, campuses, shopping malls, sports arenas, industrial complexes and major retail locations. vRAN enterprise RRUs can be clustered using industry-standard 10GbE interfaces to provide discrete and wide area coverage operating on LTE licensed and unlicensed bands, and feature a Wi-Fi option, all combined to provide a high-value, high-performance enterprise user experience.
OpenRAN Radio Partner Ecosystem Mavenir's OpenRAN Partner Ecosystem provides options for operators to deploy an innovative, flexible Cloud-based OpenRAN solution. Mavenir will act as the End-to-End systems integrator simplifying the engagement with operators and creating an offering that is on par with the traditional, hardware centric proprietary vendors. Ecosystem partners include MTI, Tecore Networks, Baicells, Fujitsu, NEC, AceAxis, KMW, Benetel, CommScope, Blue Danube Systems and Airrays. Open interfaces are in the best interest of the overall industry. The formation of this ecosystem creates a challenger to the traditional RAN vendors. Companies are encouraged to support this effort, which is a disruptive game changer, as operators continue to seek a new economic model in a world where a traditional, hardware-based approach is no longer a viable option. The OpenRAN Partner Ecosystem expands the addressable market for OpenRAN solutions. The ecosystem partners allow for addressing a greater variety of deployment scenarios. End-to-end solution integration makes it easier for smaller operators to deploy these solutions, as Mavenir will take on the responsibility of interoperability testing and multi-vendor integration. Interoperability testing has already been conducted based on the xRAN Option 7.2 split specification. Recently, the full xRAN (now ORAN) specifications have been officially released containing the management plane (M-plane), for which Mavenir significantly contributed, making this a “complete” open specification. Mavenir continues to test the latest version of the Option 7.2 split with the ecosystem partners, who are committed to the OpenRAN community and making their solutions open and commercially available. This approach is now being favored by Operators who want to embrace OpenRAN as it allows the deployment of open market (whitebox) remote radio unit (RRUs) to interwork with the virtualized cloud base band unit (vBBU) over ethernet fronthaul (FH). With this implementation operators can break the stranglehold of closed proprietary specifications and the need to implement dark fiber for RRU front haul, which could pose significant economical burdens in some countries. They can continue to provide fronthaul and backhaul in the traditional ways like microwaves and IP/MPLS technologies.
Summary Conventional RAN platforms are based on proprietary hardware and rely on long life cycles in development, deployment, and operation. vRAN enables the separation of some or all baseband functions from the remote radio unit that run as VNFs on commodity hardware, enabling centralized capabilities, such as CoMP, scheduling and interference management, without the need to exchange information among many access nodes. Mavenir’s comprehensive portfolio of fully virtualized VNFs extend the cloud scale to the edge of the network, bringing business agility with network elasticity, dynamic RAN optimization, and lower capex and opex. Mavenir’s vBBU supports multiple fronthaul splits simultaneously—making vRAN the ideal choice for a vendor-agnostic, future-proof strategy for CSPs.
About Mavenir
Mavenir is the industry’s only 100% software-based, end-to-end, Cloud Native Network Software Provider, redefining network economics for Communication Service Providers (CSPs). Our innovative solutions pave the way to 5G with 100% software-based, end-to-end, Cloud Native network solutions. Leveraging industry-leading firsts in VoLTE, VoWiFi, Advanced Messaging (RCS), Multi-ID, vEPC and vRAN, Mavenir accelerates network transformation for more than 250+ CSP customers in over 130 countries, serving over 50% of the world’s subscribers.
We embrace disruptive, innovative technology architectures and business models that drive service agility, flexibility, and velocity. With solutions that propel NFV evolution to achieve web-scale economics, Mavenir offers solutions to CSPs for revenue generation, cost reduction and revenue protection. Rev02-19-02-01
