Virtual cell site router eliminates physical router hardware

Samsung Electronics, Juniper Networks, and Wind River have collaborated on a virtual cell site router (vCSR) to allow service providers to operate their networks with end-to-end virtualization. 

vCSR is part of a new architecture in which the distributed unit and CSR functions coexist as virtualized network elements on one server. In this joint effort, the companies integrated the Juniper Cloud-Native Router, a fully containerized network element, with the Samsung virtualized DU (vDU) on Wind River Studio Cloud Platform. By running multiple network elements on a single virtualized RAN (vRAN) server, the companies are essentially eliminating the need for physical router hardware typically deployed at a cell site and reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) for network deployments of 5G.

Highlights:

• End-to-end automation with Samsung’s CognitiV Network Operations Suite: The solution supports plug-and-play deployment, management visibility, and massive software upgrades, delivering a more streamlined and efficient deployment and operation process.
• Greater agility and flexibility: Built on Software-Defined Networking principles, the virtualized architecture enables the greater scalability and flexibility needed to meet operators’ various network configurations and service demands.
• Ability to support diverse applications: With software-centric architecture, vCSR can support security applications such as firewalls and intelligently steer data flows.
• Reduced CapEx thanks to simplified deployment with less hardware: There is no need to purchase legacy hardware since it can be combined within the existing server with the vDU and other software platforms. It also frees up additional rack space.
• Reduced OpEx with energy savings: By eliminating the physical CSR hardware through server consolidation, approximately 30% of energy use can be saved.

“Leveraging our expertise in real-world vRAN deployments, Samsung, along with Juniper and Wind River, are paving the way for end-to-end virtualized networks across the world,” said Ji-Yun Seol, Vice President, Head of Product Strategy, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “With this revolutionary approach, we are giving operators the confidence to transform their networks and embrace virtual and open approaches.”

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NEC accelerates 5G core performance

NEC set a new performance benchmark for User Plane Function (UPF) processing of user data traffic in 5G core networks (5GC): a throughput of 1.3Tbps per server on Intel servers with 4th generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors.

In recent years, NEC has been working to improve UPF performance and its processing efficiency by applying advanced approaches such as optimizing CPU processing, accelerating memory access, and reducing memory access delays. 

NEC has also been continuously evaluating the latest hardware to improve performance and has now successfully confirmed the groundbreaking high throughput of 1.3Tbps in testing of a UPF on servers using 4th generation Intel Xeon scalable processors. Moreover, NEC has ensured the energy efficiency of the UPF by using Intel Infrastructure Power Manager, enabling the company to offset the influence of increasing power consumption in pursuit of carbon neutrality.

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Nokia adds new 5G mmWave receiver for Fixed Wireless Access

Nokia introduced a new 5G outdoor fixed wireless access receiver for urban, suburban, and rural areas. The outdoor receiver allows operators to use low-cost mmWave spectrum to provide consistent, reliable, ultra-fast wireless broadband services in areas where fiber can be challenging to deploy.  

Thehe outdoor receiver uses unique 360-degree field-of-view technology and Nokia Bell Labs advanced algorithms to enhance performance. Nokia says the receiver has the ability to create a digital fingerprint of available radio signals, enabling it to identify changes and rapidly switch between signal sources to ensure the best possible connection is maintained between the base station and receiver. Jigh gain antennas (up to 27 dBi) enables the mmWave FWA solution to work in non-Line-of-Sight conditions.

Dirk Verhaegen, VP of Broadband Devices at Nokia, said: "We are excited to introduce the FastMile 5G mmWave Receiver, a game-changer for FWA services. Operators that have successfully deployed FWA frequently come up against capacity challenges. mmWave is ideally suited to solve this, allowing operators to add capacity where needed. Our High-Gain, 360-degree mmWave technology eliminates line-of-sight hurdles associated with mmWave, making it easier for operators to deploy and quickly add capacity to their FWA network.”

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2024/02/22/nokia-launches-new-5g-mmwave-receiver-to-add-capacity-to-fixed-wireless-access-networks-mwc24/

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Cisco and DISH test network slicing in a hybrid cloud

Cisco and DISH Wireless are running a proof-of-concept of network slicing solution in a hybrid cloud environment based on Cisco hardware and software.

The companies are working to enable new capabilities in routing and network automation, while providing service assurance and driving simplicity, monetization and sustainability. Cisco has been driving innovation in this area, particularly with “shared slices”, using segment routing and an intent-driven declarative network automation platform that can quickly deploy differentiated services while assuring end-to-end optimization. Cisco introduced the transport slice automation capabilities with Cisco Crosswork Network Controller version 6.0.

Network slicing will help DISH Wireless separate and efficiently manage network traffic by use case and application, determining the appropriate performance requirements for each type. The proof-of-concept test with innovative Cisco technology will enable DISH Wireless to offer enterprise customers simplified deployment of 5G services with more meaningful service level agreements (SLAs).

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Major U.S. mobile operators experience outage

 In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday morning, AT&T, Verizon, Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile and other U.S.-based mobile operators experienced a significant outage affecting service in major cities across the country.

AT&T confirmed the service disruption, and said that its full network was restored about six hours later.

The FCC confirmed that is Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau were investigating but no official explanation has been posted.

https://about.att.com/pages/network-update

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Viavi and VMware offer Testbed as a Service for TAN

Viavi and VMware, now part of Broadcom, have improved their joint Testbed as a Service (TBaaS) offering. This service combines Viavi's TeraVM RIC Test and VMware's RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) to create a digital twin. This digital twin helps in testing and measuring the performance of applications. TBaaS has proven its worth with various app vendors and groups, like the i14y Lab, because it helps speed up deployment and makes networks more flexible. 

Digital twin technology, which uses AI for predictive analysis, is becoming essential for managing complex networks. It allows service providers to simulate and understand network behavior and problems by creating a virtual network model. TBaaS offers a cloud-based digital twin with tools that help communication service providers (CSPs) test applications and manage continuous updates and network security more efficiently.

The TBaaS solution from Viavi and VMware uses realistic simulations for RIC applications, providing valuable geolocation data and applications that work with real network data on the VMware RIC platform. This enables a CSP to collect data once and use it across multiple applications, saving time and resources. The TeraVM RIC Test includes a RAN Scenario Generator, which helps developers and operators create realistic scenarios for testing or in situations where real data is scarce. This data can also help train AI/ML models.

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#MWC24 Preview: Rethinking Open RAN with AI

Interested in AI/ML and Telco? SUBSCRIBE to our channel  — we'll be shooting live at MWC 2024!

How can AI help improve O-RAN?  RaviKiran Gopalan, Chief Technology Officer from Aira Technology explains how:

- O-RAN envisions an open future for telco networks out to the radio access network.

- O-RAN Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) is replacing Self-Optimizing Networks (SON), eliminating the need for vendor-specific automations and enabling cross-compatibility.

- SMO allows for seamless integration across all vendors, making it a game-changer in the industry.

https://youtu.be/jsU27xy8L1k

Want to participate? Contact info@nextgeninfra.io

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#MWC24 Preview: Digital Identity & Personal Data in the Mobile Ecosystem

 Check out complete MWC Barcelona 2024 Showcase at: https://ngi.fyi/mwc24yt

How will regulations around digital identity and personal data impact the mobile ecosystem? Michael Becker, CEO from Identity Praxis, explains:

- The critical factors influencing how identity data are being shaped by the mobile ecosystem and how they're shaping the mobile ecosystem in return.

- The rise of the self-sovereign individual and the emergence of industry-driven identity and personal information management service solutions.

- The convergence of organizational identity and personal data management with individual identity and personal data management, and how this "meeting of the waters" is transforming society and industry.

https://youtu.be/llSWTre8E9Q

Like our videos? Want to participate? Contact info@nextgeninfra.io

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MaxLinear intros Single Chip for 5G Open RAN Radio

MaxLinear introduced a highly integrated SoC optimized for 4G/5G Open Radio Access Network (RAN) radio units (RU). 

The new Sierra line is a single-chip platform that flexibly supports major RU applications including traditional macro, massive MIMO, picocell, all-in-one small cells, etc. The design integrates the following sub-systems into a single chip, providing a complete software-programmable radio signal processing engine for Open RUs (O-RU):

• RF transceiver supporting up to 8 transmitters, 8 receivers, and 2 feedback receivers
• Digital Front End (DFE) including DPD, crest factor reduction (CFR), and Passive Intermodulation (PIM) cancellation
• Low-PHY baseband processor supporting 5G, 4G, and NB-IoT air interfaces
• O-RAN Alliance Split 7.2x fronthaul interface

“Infrastructure vendors have been waiting for an open-market silicon solution that can enable them to develop O-RUs without compromise on performance or cost,” said Sean Martin, Senior Director of Wireless Infrastructure. “By integrating our highest performance RF and system technologies in Sierra, MaxLinear is empowering these radio vendors to rapidly and cost effectively develop new O-RUs with reduced size, weight, and power consumption.”

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Nokia appoints Sandy Motley as Country Manager for U.S.

Nokia appointed Sandy Motley as the new Country Manager for Nokia in the U.S., a newly defined role for the company. She has held the position of President of the company’s Fixed Networks division – which is part of Nokia’s Network Infrastructure business group – since 2019. 

Nokia has an established presence and more than 10 000 employees. The U.S. was the first region to deploy Nokia’s 5G technology and around 90% of the U.S. population is connected by Nokia’s network solutions. The U.S. is also home to the organization’s world-leading industrial research lab, Nokia Bell Labs. 

In August 2023, Nokia announced it was becoming the first telecom company to announce the manufacture of fiber broadband optical modules in the U.S. for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

“We are delighted to announce Sandy as our new U.S. Country Manager. Her expertise, passion, and deep understanding of the market and the priorities of our customers and partners make her the ideal frontperson for Nokia in the U.S.,” said Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO, Nokia. “Sandy possesses a wealth of senior leadership experience and has managed cross-disciplinary teams at many levels of the organization. This appointment demonstrates our commitment to the U.S. market, and I have full confidence that Sandy will lead our people with distinction and further strengthen Nokia’s position in this vital region.

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