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C-RAN: Virtualizing the Radio for SDN/NFV

C-RAN is new radio access network architecture that had been proposed by China Mobile Research Institute and Intel in 2010 to solve some of the problems related to traditional structure and allows better deployment for next generation mobile networks.

The first section of this report explains the concept of C-RAN by drawing a wider picture of the current challenges of the traditional RAN architecture and the motivations to adopt a new one. System architecture and components are then clarified. Finally, C-RAN enablers and expected advantages are listed.

The second section deals with the current market and ecosystem including major operators who currently deploying or trialing, vendors’ profiles, joint research, and industry collaborations.

Table of Contents

  • 1. C-RAN OVERVIEW
    • 1.1. Challenges with Traditional Architectures and Drivers for C-RAN
      • 1.1.1. Increasing Cell Site CAPEX and OPEX
      • 1.1.2. Power Consumption
      • 1.1.3. Tidal Effect: Under-utilization of BS Processing Power
    • 1.2. Architecture of C-RAN
    • 1.3. C-RAN Enablers
      • 1.3.1. Optical Fronthaul
      • 1.3.2. Baseband Pool Interconnection
      • 1.3.3. GPP Challenge
    • 1.4. C-RAN Advantages
      • 1.4.1. Major Savings in CAPEX and OPEX
      • 1.4.2. Flexible Network Upgrade
      • 1.4.3. Advanced Features
  • 2. C-RAN ECOSYSTEM AND MARKET STATUS
    • 2.1. Key Players: Operators
      • 2.1.1. China Mobile
      • 2.1.2. Korea Telecom
      • 2.1.3. SK Telecom
      • 2.1.4. NTT DOCOMO
      • 2.1.5. European Operators
    • 2.2. Key Players: Non-profit Organizations
    • 2.3. Key Players: Vendors and Chip Providers
      • 2.3.1. Intel
      • 2.3.2. Nokia Solutions and Networks
      • 2.3.3. ZTE
      • 2.3.4. Huawei
      • 2.3.5. Alcatel-Lucent
      • 2.3.6. NEC
      • 2.3.7. ASOCS
      • 2.3.8. Xilinx
      • 2.3.9. IBM
      • 2.3.10. Transmode
      • 2.3.11. Texas Instruments
      • 2.3.12. 6WIND
    • 2.4. C-RAN Market Development
  • 3. APPENDIX: DEFINITIONS AND TERMS

Tables

  1. Definitions and Terms

Charts

  1. Base Station Equipment Spend by Technology, World Market, Forecast: 2013 to 2018
  2. Remote Radio Head Shipments by Interface, CPRI versus OBSAI, World Market, 2012 and 2018
  3. Total Available Bandwidth for Backhaul Fiber Ethernet Networks by Region, World Market, Forecast: 2012 to 2018
  4. Remote Radio Head Shipments by Air Interface, World Market, Forecast: 2013 to 2018

Figures

  1. Traditional, Distributed, and C-RAN BS Architectures
  2. C-RAN Architecture
  3. C-RAN Ecosystem
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Research Information

Price
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Publish Date
1Q 2014
Code
AN-1273
Research Type
Technology Analysis Report
Pages
21