• 전자통신동향분석
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Traditional centralized radio access network architecture used for 4G is based on Option 8, a functional split between PHY and RF. This option is commonly used with a fronthaul interface based on common public radio interface (CPRI) specifications; however, the increased data rates in 5G make this option impractical because of the fronthaul interface's high bandwidth requirement. Since CPRI specifications have many vendor-specific options, achieving multi-vendor interoperability becomes challenging. Open RAN (O-RAN) Alliance is developing novel open fronthaul interface specifications based on the functional split Option 7-2x, one of the intra-PHY split options, to relax the bandwidth requirement of the fronthaul interface and achieve multi-vendor interoperability. This article provides a brief overview of the various functional split options for 5G fronthaul that have been reported so far and existing fronthaul technologies. Further, the technological trends in the 5G open fronthaul interface is discussed, focusing on the O-RAN Alliance specifications under standardization.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• 제12권10호
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• pp.4618-4639
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• 2018

One of the most innovative paradigms for the next-generation of wireless cellular networks is the cloud-radio access networks (C-RANs). In C-RANs, base station functions are distributed between the remote radio heads (RHHs) and base band unit (BBU) pool, and a communication link is defined between them which is referred as the fronthaul. This leveraging link is expected to reduce the CAPEX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (operating expense) of envisioned cellular architectures as well as improves the spectral and energy efficiencies, provides the high scalability, and efficient mobility management capabilities. The fronthaul link carries the baseband signals between the RRHs and BBU pool using the digital radio over fiber (RoF) based common public radio interface (CPRI). CPRI based optical links imposed stringent synchronization, latency and throughput requirements on the fronthaul. As a result, fronthaul becomes a hinder in commercial deployments of C-RANs and is seen as one of a major bottleneck for backbone networks. The optimization of fronthaul is still a challenging issue and requires further exploration at industrial and academic levels. This paper comprehensively summarized the current challenges and requirements of fronthaul networks, and discusses the recently proposed system architectures, virtualization techniques, key transport technologies and compression schemes to carry the time-sensitive traffic in fronthaul networks.

• 전자통신동향분석
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.97-106
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• 2017

The introduction of new access technologies in 5G radio networks has had a considerable impact on the design of transport networks. Research activities are underway on new transport technologies in both the wireless and optical domains to support 5G transport. This paper provides an overview of the concept and requirements of a fronthaul. We also discuss the research activities of a new fronthaul interface for future 5G networks, a 5G integrated fronthaul/backhaul transport network (5G-Crosshaul), a next-generation fronthaul interface (NGFI), a mobile xhaul network (MXN), and a next-generation mobile fronthaul architecture with multi-IF carrier transmission scheme.

• 전자통신동향분석
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.23-32
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• 2022

This paper provides an overview of optical transport technology for 5G mobile fronthaul. The configuration of fronthaul network is classified with dedicated fiber, passive WDM(Wavelength Division Multiplexing), active WDM, and semi-active WDM, which has its own advantages and drawbacks. Various WDM technology is applied for fronthaul transport, depending on the wavelength bands, required number of wavelength channels, configuration of fronthaul network, etc. In order to meet the increasing transport capacity, a 50/100 Gbps optical transceiver will be used in place of the present 10/25 Gbps technology. Trends will be continued to enhance the flexibility and reliability of the fronthaul optical network supporting highly advanced 5G mobile services.

• ETRI Journal
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.1055-1064
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• 2015

We demonstrate a next-generation high-capacity mobile fronthaul based on radio over fiber (RoF) technology, which links between a digital unit and a radio unit supporting two frequency assignments and $2{\times}2$ multiple input, multiple output antennas. To confirm the technical feasibility of a mobile fronthaul, we experimentally investigate its down- and uplink end-to-end performances including the optical and radio frequency (RF) signal path. Frequency-dependent performance deviations, error vector magnitude variations, overall system performance variations caused by optical to electrical conversion, and intermediate frequency to RF conversions are examined. Experimental verifications on multiple LTE uplink signals are performed for the first time. We also demonstrate several commercial mobile Internet services, YouTube video streaming, and file transfers using off-the-shelf mobile devices, through a mobile fronthaul based on RoF.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.162-172
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• 2016

The placement of the complete baseband processing in a centralized pool results in high data rate requirement and inflexibility of the fronthaul network, which challenges the energy and cost effectiveness of the cloud radio access network (C-RAN). Recently, redesign of the C-RAN through functional split in the baseband processing chain has been proposed to overcome these challenges. This paper evaluates, by mathematical and simulation methods, different splits with respect to network level energy and cost efficiency having in the mind the expected quality of service. The proposed mathematical model quantifies the multiplexing gains and the trade-offs between centralization and decentralization concerning the cost of the pool, fronthaul network capacity and resource utilization. The event-based simulation captures the influence of the traffic load dynamics and traffic type variation on designing an efficient fronthaul network. Based on the obtained results, we derive a principle for fronthaul dimensioning based on the traffic profile. This principle allows for efficient radio access network with respect to multiplexing gains while achieving the expected users' quality of service.

• 한국전자통신학회논문지
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• 제9권8호
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• pp.915-919
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• 2014

전 세계적으로 스마트폰이 널리 보급되고 있으며, 이에 따라 이동통신망에서 데이터 통신의 수요가 폭증하고 있다. 이를 수용하기 위하여 전 세계적으로 LTE-Advanced와 같은 차세대 이동통신 서비스가 보급되고 있다. 이러한 LTE-Advanced 기지국을 구현함에 있어서 DU(digital unit)와 RU(radio unit)로 분리된 형상의 기지국이 많이 사용되고 있다. 이때에 DU와 RU를 연결하는 네트워크 구간인 Fronthaul 구간에 기존에는 CPRI(common public radio interface)라는 디지털 광통신 기술로 구현되어 왔으나, 폭증하는 데이터 수용을 감당하기에는 그 한계에 다다른 상태이다. 따라서, 본 논문에서는 이 구간을 아날로그 광통신 기술인 RoF(Radio over Fiber)로 구현하여 폭증하는 전송용량을 경제적으로 수용할 수 있는 방안을 연구하였다. 또한, LTE-Advanced 이동통신망의 Fronthaul 구간을 RoF로 구현하기 위한 기술적인 요구사항을 연구하였다.

• 융합정보논문지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.22-27
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• 2020

5G 인프라 보급과 더불어 기하급수적으로 증가하는 1인 미디어 방송, 유튜브와 같은 모바일 콘텐츠 서비스를 안정적으로 제공하기 위해서는 사용자 부근에 캐시 서버를 분산 배치하는 콘텐츠 전송 네트워크(CDN:Content Delivery Network) 도입이 필수적이다. 지역 캐시 없이 사용자가 콘텐츠 사업자(Content Provider)로부터 직접 서비스를 받는 트래픽이 늘어날수록 모바일 백홀(Backhaul)과 프론트홀(Fronthaul)에서 감당해야 할 부담은 상당히 증가하게 된다. 본 연구는 광기반 5G 프론트홀 구조와 캐싱 방법을 제안하여 모바일 백홀의 대역폭 및 서비스 품질을 개선하는 데 목적이 있다. 이를 위해 우선 전용 광케이블을 프론트홀로 사용하는 콘텐츠 전송 네트워크와 수동광가입자망(PON:Passive Optical Network)을 사용하는 구조를 제안한다. 그 위에 PON 캐싱에 특화된 집화된 콘텐츠 요청 방법을 제안하고 모델링과 시뮬레이션을 통해 그 성능을 기존의 방식과 비교한다. 제안된 PON 캐싱은 기존 캐싱이 없는 구조에 비해 최대 0.5초의 평균접근시간 감소, 1/n개의 수신된 요청 패킷 감소, 약 60% 백홀 대역폭 절감 효과를 나타냈다. 이 연구는 모바일 백홀 비용과 서비스 품질 사이에서 고민하는 통신사업자들에게 하나의 참고 자료가 될 수 있으며, 추후 캐시 적중률을 더욱 끌어올리는 방안으로 확장될 것이다.

• 전자공학회논문지
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.3-9
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• 2016

본 논문에서는 무선 및 이동통신을 위한 클라우드 무선 가입자 네트워크를 지원하는 프론트홀에서 무선 라디오파의 광섬유 전송망의 기술을 제안하고 구현한다. 하향 링크는 OFMD (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) (O기법을 사용하였고 상향방향의 전송은 SC-FDMA (single carrier-frequency multiple access) 방식으로 구현하였다. 64, QAM, 16QAM, QPSK 등 다양한 변조 방식에 대해 시스템 파라메터를 도출하고 측정치를 기반으로 성능을 분석하였다.

• 디지털산업정보학회논문지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.11-24
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• 2022

Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) standard has been proposed to separate the baseband signal processing unit from the Radio Frequency (RF) unit at base station system mainly for reducing the cost of base station systems through open-source interfaces between the two units. To satisfy the performance metrics in various scenarios, several fronthaul functional split options were presented by O-RAN. Amongst these options, the split option 7-2x is widely adopted in practical applications due to its excellent trade-off between the required bandwidth and RU overhead. In this paper, we present a hardware implementation of a base station system that is compliant with the Category B of O-RAN split option 7-2x. It consists of O-DU and O-RU implemented with a commercial off-the-shelf Digital Signal Processor and RF transceiver, respectively. The performance of the proposed base station system is evaluated in terms of Bit Error Rate and received signal power as well as the required fronthaul bandwidth. Through various experimental tests, we have observed that the proposed system reduces the fronthaul bandwidth nearly by 89.7% compared to the conventional system that dose not employ the O-RAN standard.