Top 3 Considerations for MNOs Designing a 5G ORAN In-Building Network

As discussed in our prior blog on ORAN, while mobile network operators (MNOs) benefited tremendously from the shift to the Centralized RAN (CRAN) architecture from traditional RANs in the past decade, the advent of Open RANs (ORANs) may offer even greater benefits for MNOs. The MNOs are likely to adopt this new 5G ORAN architecture for their greenfield outdoor and indoor network builds going forward due to cost savings, network flexibility, scalability, speed, and ease of deployment reasons.

Given our extensive in-building deployments coupled with our active involvement within the O-RAN alliance, we are becoming a preferred partner for MNOs opting for 5G ORAN indoor networks. As network owners rationalize architecture choices, they often benefit from a checklist that can help them evaluate options and make a sound investment decision. In this article, we will discuss the Top 3 consideration for an MNO when opting for a 5G ORAN in-building network. In a subsequent blog, we will provide a similar guide from a building owner’s perspective knowing that the goals and objectives for a property owner can differ from that of an MNO.

While network owners globally are actively evaluating 5G ORANs, the discussions around open architecture will increasingly begin to focus on the “how” versus the “if.”   

CONSIDERATION 1: LOWER COST OF OWNERSHIP

For MNOs looking at cost savings and lower cost of ownership (TCO), the 5G ORAN ecosystem delivers the greatest savings given the reduced capital and operating expenditures required. Increased vendor competition and use of non-proprietary components lowers the capital cost of the components used. The ecosystem being created by ORAN is also something RAN OEMs can take advantage of due to the diversity of ODM partners providing ORAN compliant components. Use of virtualized RANs running on a cloud architecture ensures that operational costs remain low for any network upgrades and enhancements, utilizing the latest advances in cloud workload orchestration, networking, and management.

The great news is that the cost optimization will continue to happen as the server costs and transport network costs will benefit from economies of scale. This will lower the TCO over the ensuing years even further. Currently, with the inflation rates soaring, it is difficult to comprehend a scenario where the costs are lowered. However, over time, higher scale and experience of deploying such networks will bring the overall cost of the 5G ORAN down, driving further benefits for the MNOs.

CONSIDERATION 2: SPEED, EASE OF NETWORK DEPLOYMENT & END-TO-END SECURITY

Being an eco-system approach versus a vendor focused implementation, 5G ORAN promotes interoperability and non-proprietary component use. Besides, the 5G RAN will be highly virtualized with the disaggregation of the hardware and software components in the RAN. In a virtualized RAN, the baseband units (BBUs) primarily reside in either centralized cloud data centers or in a distributed edge cloud closer to the premises. The network functions are disaggregated into a centralized unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU).

The DU primarily takes care of the baseband functions along with user scheduling and medium access control (MAC) and radio link control (RLC) functionality. Given the latency critical and real-time nature of these functions, the DU is expected to be hosted closer to the radio unit (RU), either on-premises or on an edge cloud server. The CU carries Layer 3 radio resource control (RRC) control plane functionality along with packet data processing for the user plane and is not latency sensitive. As a result, much of the CU functions (especially the control plane) can be hosted on a centralized cloud server. RAN functionality can be made to be highly available and fault tolerant by using cloud native approaches to high availability. Since both the CU and DU can be centrally managed (configured and monitored) using cloud orchestration mechanisms, this topology enables a rapid deployment and seamless provisioning of the 5G network when compared with the traditional RAN or CRAN architectures.

With the real time and mission-critical functions typically residing in the DUs closer to the edge of the network, a well-designed 5G ORAN solution can be architected to scale effectively. For in-building networks, security is a key consideration since the radios and DU servers are on premises often without physical security guarantees, unlike in a Macro network. To this end, IPSEC encryption ensures secured mid-haul data connectivity for the control and management plane, while the inherent support of security in the Packet Data Conversion Protocol (PDCP) in the CU-DU split architecture ensures end-to-end data plane security. All in all, the bases are well covered for the MNO when evaluating 5G ORAN as the architecture for the future, especially for in-building networks.

CONSIDERATION 3: CONSTANT INNOVATION

RAN innovation has historically been constrained by the lack of competition. Vendor diversity opens the aperture with new possibilities, approaches and functionalities surfacing for the MNOs. For network owners and operators looking for innovative solutions, both today and in the coming years, the use of best-in-class and high-performing components in their networks will enable feature-rich applications and advanced capabilities in their networks. With increased product enhancements, the MNO’s service offerings will improve and the entire mobile experience for the subscribers will be elevated.

The road to private networks for the MNOs goes through RAN sharing and support of 5G ORANs. The promise of convergence on the outdoor and indoor networks, unification of the macro and urban deployments, and a host of other deployment scenarios will benefit from the innovation in the RAN which will be best delivered in the new open architecture. MNOs looking for innovation in their RAN will need to opt for 5G ORANs for future gains.

WHAT’S THE LIKELY DECIDING FACTOR?

As we have taken the huge step towards an open architecture and embracing vendor diversity, the deciding factor will be in the ability to integrate the offerings and ensuring a high-performing 5G ORAN in-building network. System integration is a complex task and unless the whole solution is brought together seamlessly to work as one unified well-designed system, the benefits of openness will be dampened by lack of seamless interoperability. It is critical that the system is managed end-to-end and put together as if it came from a single vendor. The system integrator ecosystem’s ability to integrate the entire solution efficiently will become critical to the success of the 5G ORAN architecture deployment.

Aesthetics of the radio as well as space, cost, and energy consumption of the head-end (servers, switches, routers etc.) is an additional concern for the building-owners, and we will discuss the importance of these factors in the next write up. Ensuring a highly-secure, flexible, scalable, and lowest cost in-building 5G ORAN are areas of focus for our team, and we are always looking at ways to do in-building networks better.

 

Why do you need a mobile private network?

Mobile private networks are currently a hot topic in the enterprise space. But while 5G is getting much of the focus, for many businesses a 4G mobile private network provides more than enough capability – and at a lower cost. Mike Kennett, Freshwave’s Senior Consultant and Head of Regulatory Affairs, looks at some of the considerations for businesses considering a mobile private network.  

Mobile private networks have emerged in the last 2-3 years due to the availability of spectrum and lightweight core software and they offer exciting new opportunities for enterprises. They are secure, use uncontested spectrum, allow full control of service quality and devices, enable wide area coverage, and we’re already using them in several commercial deployments for our customers.

Mobile World Congress 2022 saw a big presence from new players in mobile such as AWS and Microsoft, as they will be a facilitator and supplier of adaptable mobile private network services. Inevitably in this new market some have their preferred terminology for much the same thing: private networks, private 5G, private 4G, private LTE, campus networks, private mobile networks or private cellular networks. We prefer the term mobile private networks as it’s not prescriptive about the mobile technology (4G or 5G) and its acronym MPN is widely used.

So how much spectrum and how many Gs do you need? That depends on the specific customer requirements and that’s always our starting point before considering the spectrum and technology options.

What are the different spectrum options?

Spectrum is essential for any MPN. There are three relevant local licence types in the UK, all issued by Ofcom.

• Shared access licences (SALs) use non-MNO spectrum in four dedicated bands: Two LTE bands, the upper n77 5G band, and a mmWave band. We have several SALs for MPNs at our UK offices and have arranged them for customers. Ofcom is now proposing to add a fifth (upper 6 GHz) band which is part of the n96 5G band. This will more than double the total amount of 5G SAL spectrum to over 1000 MHz. We’re supportive of Ofcom’s proposals, although harmonisation with other countries may be needed to help ensure the cost-effective availability of suitable equipment for this band.
• Local access licences (LALs) use MNO spectrum but need specific approval from the relevant MNO, so they usually take longer to arrange. They are also more expensive than SALs. As of February this year there were only 21 in the UK, of which Freshwave has five providing commercial services. In fact, we’re proud to have been the very first provider an MNO shared spectrum with, having agreed this with Vodafone back in 2019.
• Innovation and trial licences are a good option for pre-commercial networks. Again, we’ve arranged several licences in MNO bands and built 5G MPNs to support ongoing innovation with some of our partners.

Thanks to our close relationships with the MNOs, if MNO spectrum is required we’re able to get in touch with the right people there before applying for the licence. We agree the technical conditions needed to ensure coexistence with their networks and this speeds up the LAL or innovation licence process.

Unfortunately there’s a patchwork of different MPN bands used in Europe and globally, so many vendors have been reluctant to develop equipment for the upper n77 band in particular. However in December the European Community mandated the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) to assess harmonisation of this band across the EU, which should help influence vendor product roadmaps.

Do I need 4G or 5G technology?

Despite the hype around private 5G, 4G technology is often sufficient for the current needs of many businesses. And it’s significantly cheaper than 5G due to the wide variety of products available. For example,  we’re providing broadband connectivity at multiple holiday parks around the UK using (5G-ready) 4G MPN infrastructure. We’ve won awards for it in fact!

4G is also adequate for many other use cases such as push-to-talk over cellular (PoC), predictive maintenance and even augmented reality (AR).

5G technology is nevertheless essential for use cases where low latency is needed, such as virtual reality (VR), robotics and remotely controlled vehicles. Or where there simply isn’t enough 4G spectrum available locally.

You may have heard the term Industry 4.0 used in connection with MPNs. This is one of the broad categories of MPN use cases referred to frequently. Many of the applications needed in a modern manufacturing facility are complex, so introduction of a solution based on an MPN is not trivial.

Nevertheless, significant benefits can be achieved simply by using an MPN to replace physical cabling, without changing the existing application. An MPN gives the customer the flexibility to reconfigure a factory quickly and easily without expensive re-cabling. We see use of MPN for cable replacement as a quick win in the migration to Industry 4.0.

In conclusion, MPNs are here now and already providing business benefits. Depending on the customer requirements, readily available 4G technology (with an upgrade path to 5G) is often sufficient. Cable replacement is a simple MPN use case which is applicable to many verticals and can bring real, immediate benefits for those looking to explore Industry 4.0. We’re uniquely placed to provide a complete MPN service for a wide variety of customers as we are technology and vendor agnostic, and have existing relationships with the MNOs (should their spectrum be needed).

 

Announcing private network solutions on Google Distributed Cloud Edge

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Today, we’re announcing a new private networking solutions portfolio to further accelerate adoption of private cellular networks. Based on Google Distributed Cloud Edge and leveraging our ISV ecosystem, these solutions address the distinct performance, service-level, and economic needs of key industry verticals by combining dedicated network capabilities with full edge-computing application stacks.

Enterprises today are facing a network coverage and quality of service challenge that strains existing solutions like WiFi. Whether being used to add users, deploy industry-specific workloads, or support Internet of Things (IoT) and other connected devices, existing networking solutions struggle to deliver the connectivity, control, and scalability that enterprises need. Private networks based on cellular technologies like 5G offer a variety of benefits over WiFi for several enterprise use cases. For example, WiFi can be noisy and deliver inconsistent performance in terms of both latency and bandwidth, which impacts its ability to deliver the Quality of Service (QoS) you need for real-time applications like video monitoring and robotic manufacturing. It’s also hard to use WiFi to provide capacity and coverage in large areas like entertainment venues, nor is WiFi well suited for connecting large numbers of sensors and IoT devices. And in places where a connected device is on the move, like in a warehouse or distribution center, WiFi doesn’t offer the seamless connectivity that workers and vehicles require. 

Private networks, meanwhile, allow organizations to introduce local private cellular networks to complement existing WiFi and public cellular connectivity. For example, manufacturers can deploy a private network across a large factory site bridging operations, automation, and IoT devices, with robust baseline connectivity and support for next-generation functionality such as predictive maintenance and quality control through computer vision analytics. For educators, private networks can extend connectivity to underserved communities and students, enabling distance learning outside the classroom. Building and venue owners can use private networks to improve occupant safety, reduce costs and lower energy consumption via smart-building applications, and deliver new occupant and visitor experiences.  And critically, cellular networks’ built-in security provides peace of mind for data privacy in a way that other approaches do not.

A flexible, mature solution

Many enterprises have been experimenting with private networks but operating and scaling them presents numerous challenges. With this new portfolio, built upon Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) Edge and new key partnerships, customers can rapidly adopt turn-key, private network solutions with the flexibility to deploy management, control, and user plane functions both in the cloud and at the edge. GDC  Edge has access to Google Cloud services and is backed by Google’s security best practices. By building on a mature, cloud-native management experience, powered by Anthos, enterprises benefit from a consistent developer and operational model across their entire IT estate. In addition, Distributed Cloud Edge offers the flexibility to scale to other use cases that need low latency and Quality of Service (QoS) for critical applications.

Every enterprise has unique topography, latency and QoS requirements for their applications. Google Distributed Cloud Edge provides a centralized control and management plane for secure networks, scaling from one to thousands of locations. With GDC Edge, customers can run private networks including virtualized RAN for connectivity and edge applications in a single solution. Our partnerships with Communications Service Providers (CSPs) further enable enterprises with roaming connectivity while retaining control of their private environments.

A broad ecosystem of partners

Given the variety of needs across different industries, we are working with key ISV ecosystem partners to deliver integrated solutions built on our GDC Edge portfolio combined with their own distinct solutions. Our launch partners include:

• Betacom will deploy its fully managed private wireless service, 5G as a Service (5GaaS), on GDC Edge, giving enterprises access to cost-effective, high-performance 5G networks that are designed, deployed and managed to support new intelligent manufacturing applications. 

• Boingo Wireless will deploy its fully managed, end-to-end private cellular networks for enterprise customers using GDC Edge at major airports, stadiums, hospitals, manufacturing facilities, and U.S. military bases. 

• Celona’s 5G LAN solution automates rollout of private cellular networks that are tightly integrated with existing security and app QoS policies. Celona’s 5G LAN network operating system can also be deployed as a resource within GDC Edge, further accelerating private cellular adoption. 

• Crown Castle owns and operates communications infrastructure, including wireless infrastructure and fiber networks, that serves the demands of telecommunications network operators, enterprises, and the public sector, and seeks to enable the next wave of deployments with partners leveraging GDC Edge for private network deployments. 

• Kajeet will deploy its 5G solution on GDC Edge with a mission to connect students and communities with safe, simple, and secure high-speed wireless Internet to eliminate the digital divide once and for all.

Several countries including the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and South Korea allocate spectrum for private networking, and CSPs have spectrum that can be extended for private use as well. In the US, private network solution partners can also utilize our Spectrum Access System (SAS) to leverage the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). Google Cloud has led the way in this space, laying the foundation for low-friction private network deployments by promoting industry-wide adoption of CBRS, and by operating a market-leading SAS. 

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