Category: Trends

Network slicing, allows to use a single physical infrastructure allowing to put the functionality where and when needed depending on the use case and application. This concept allows flexibility and tailoring of a dedicated virtual network to a specific need. In this post, we’ll discuss the overall concept of network slicing with the focus on 5G RAN aspects. This is followed up by placing the network slicing in the O-RAN context. We'll touch on the architectural aspects related to Open RAN as defined by O-RAN ALLIANCE.

In this blog post, we provide a general overview of ways to improve EE in contemporary mobile networks. This is followed up by some representative examples of algorithms aiming at EE optimization at different levels, with a focus on the utilization of ML techniques. We then put it in the context of O-RAN where the deployment of EE-focused aspects and algorithms is discussed.

RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is one of the key elements in the O-RAN architecture, which allows feeding an „external” intelligence into the operations of the radio network. It creates a platform for which the software companies could provide per-use case AI-powered algorithms to make way for, among others, radio resources usage or procedure optimizations. This whitepaper provides an overview of the RIC, discusses its functional split into Non-Real-Time and Near-Real-Time entities along with the concept and examples of rApps and xApps.

On the 20th of December 2021, 3GPP SA TSG approved a total of 28 WIs/SIs for the SA2 Rel-18 at the SA plenary meeting #94e. 3GPP Rel-18 is the first release of the 5G-Advanced standard. The approved projects include TSN, NW slicing, support for edge computing, NW automation, location services, AI and ML-based services, XR services to name a few. In this post, we elaborate on each of the approved WI/SI entering 5G-Advanced standardization.

3GPP Rel-18 is the first release of the 5G-Advanced standard. On the 17th of December 2021, 3GPP TSG RAN plenary (3GPP RAN TSG #94e) approved 28 Release-18 projects (i.e., Study- and Work-Items, SI/WI) with the following split among RAN groups: 12 RAN1-led projects, 10 RAN2-led projects, 5 RAN3-led projects, and 1 RAN4-led project. Those topics include AI/ML for NR and NG-RAN, NTN and MIMO enhancements, evolution for sidelink, UAV, RedCap, SON, QoE, XR services, to name a few. In this post, we elaborate on each of the approved projects entering 5G-Advanced standardization.

The goal of Non-RT RIC is to support intelligent RAN optimization by providing policy-based guidance, model management, and enrichment information to the Near-RT RIC function so that the RAN can be optimized. Non-RT RIC works within the management plane and operates on seconds and minutes timescale. In this post, we provide the architecture of the Non-RT RIC and discuss the example applications, called rApps.