Benefits of Cloud-RAN (Radio Access Network)

The telecom sector has undergone many waves of transformation over the last three decades, from 1G, where only voice communication was possible, to now, where the possibilities are limitless. And as a result, operators are constantly pushed to balance capacity & coverage with cost.

With 5G, the need to scale out and be flexible is on the rise. As we have shifted from 1G to 5G, the evolution of RAN (Radio Access Network is a vital component of the mobile network, where individual end-user devices like smartphones, IoT devices or Laptops/Desktops are connected to other parts of a network) has also kept pace.

Cloud-RAN or C-RAN is an answer to the ever-growing network needs. As the term suggests, Cloud-RAN is a cloud platform that operators can use to perform compute functions that were otherwise done on purpose-built hardware platforms. That explains the cost advantage associated with C-RAN. It also supports emerging technologies like network slicing, which have the potential to cut down costs significantly without compromising on security or network quality.

In our view, the closest analogy to the path to C-RAN is how Data Center has transformed over the years. From a growth phase to consolidation, to virtualization and eventually, to Cloud, it has come a long way. But it has taken a while. The journey of RAN from its initial days to its current avatar, which has its foundation in Cloud and Open Architecture, is somewhat similar. It is a journey which has taken years and continues to evolve.

To ensure that your Cloud-RAN is optimally utilized,

• Create a list of use cases which helps in identifying the right cloud infrastructure
• Consider the benefits of an Open RAN architecture keeping performance and interoperability as key metrics of measurement
• Make sure that existing investments are optimally used and leveraged; create an environment of co-existence between traditional RAN investments with Open RAN (akin to a Hybrid Cloud environment)