The virtualized radio access network, or vRAN, created a new stage in the evolution of cellular networks, because it enables previously hardware-driven functions to become software based or virtualized. It helps carriers improve operational efficiencies and meet the demands of 5G with greater flexibility and efficiency. Often called a “new frontier” for LTE operators, vRAN is considered an important enabler for 5G, maximizing return on investment by transitioning legacy 2G/3G sites into 4G/5G with lower capital expenditures.

The reason the vRAN architecture strategy matters in terms of cost-effectiveness within 5G environments is that RAN alone can represent up to 80% of the cost of a mobile network (rcrwireless.com, 2020). The new vRAN architecture allows mobile network operators (MNOs) to offer new services sooner and faster, because they don’t have to wait for OEMs or other partners when a new feature is needed. With vRAN, MNOs can also put together and modify radio resources to better assist user traffic.

The vRAN concept leverages existing Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) technologies to eliminate the need for specialized hardware, reducing both the capital and operational expenses of 5G networks by using commodity servers with standardized software. The approach is designed to address scalability, cost, agility, and flexibility within the new 5G infrastructure.

Advantages of vRAN

The vRAN approach offers:

• Less hardware use, lowering prices
• Increased flexibility, agility, and scalability
• The ability to alter and adjust workloads with minimal effort
• Scaled resources that flow with network demands as they fluctuate

Open RAN, or O-RAN, provides a way of building mobile networks. It allows a telecom operator to take an end-to-end approach to RAN network architecture and design by using an interoperable combination of different suppliers’ technologies. Operators can easily select and mix the network elements from different suppliers that are best suited for their particular scenario.

In fact, operators are increasingly using open source technology for Open RAN to get innovative solutions tailored to their needs while reducing vendor dependency. Open RAN provides increased flexibility by enabling the selection of best-of-breed network components from a multi-vendor ecosystem, opening the potential for significant TCO reduction for operators. This creates a more open and collaborative environment, leading to more agile and flexible solutions that can adapt more quickly to evolving market needs, new technology developments, and consumer advances.

It also means that product development efforts must be shared by all stakeholders. There is no longer a unique entity responsible for the complete end-to-end supply chain, for example. A new approach to system integration during the deployment phase is required to efficiently manage supply chain disaggregation and fully capture TCO savings.

Advantages of O-RAN

5G RAN calls for a widely distributed, virtualized edge compute that offers extremely low latency and high availability to support a variety of new use cases. Wind River^® Studio provides a production-ready Kubernetes platform for operators managing edge cloud infrastructure. It delivers an integrated cloud platform unifying infrastructure, orchestration, and analytics capabilities. This enables MNOs to deploy and manage globally distributed 5G edge networks, including the remote servers that will process vRAN traffic.

The core operator capabilities of Studio include the following:

Wind River Studio Cloud Platform

Studio provides a production-grade Kubernetes cloud platform for managing edge cloud infrastructure. Based on the open source StarlingX project, Studio compiles optimal open source technology to deploy and manage distributed networks.

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Wind River Studio Conductor

Studio’s comprehensive automation and orchestration capabilities provide one platform to achieve complete end-to-end, multi-cloud automation and zero-touch operation. MNOs can use the app catalog to select applications, deploy them to a carrier-grade cloud platform, and orchestrate the resources needed for the applications at the edge network site. This orchestration allows scalability from a handful of nodes to thousands of nodes in a geographically dispersed, distributed environment.

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Wind River Studio Analytics

Using machine-learning algorithms, Studio supports effective management of a distributed cloud system by consuming and processing data and producing meaningful insights for decision-making. Studio uses full-stack monitoring of the cloud infrastructure cluster to collect, analyze, and visualize cloud behavioral data to improve uptime and optimize operations.

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Figure 1. Studio offers a single geo-distributed cloud operating multiple individual distributed clouds with centralized management

Better than anyone else in the market, Wind River provides these key elements to our customers:

Dell Technologies and Wind River are committed to helping CSPs build the cloud-native networks of the future. One of the key challenges in deploying a virtual or Open RAN solution is systems integration. One way Dell Technologies and Wind River are addressing that challenge is by integrating PowerEdge servers, Bare Metal Orchestrator management software, and Studio into a seamless hardware/software solution that simplifies the deployment and lifecycle management of a telco cloud at scale. The first supported use cases include virtualized centralized and distributed units (vCU/vDU) for vRAN and Open RAN and management clusters for the Telecom Multi-Cloud Foundation site controller.