STL’s programmable RAN
In pRAN, STL has developed the nRT-RIC (Near-real time RAN Intelligent Controller),
which is also one of the critical components of the O-RAN architecture and meet the
below objectives:
Specifies the near-RT
control functionalities, and
interfaces with CU/DU,
controlling functions such
as RAN slicing, QoS control,
and enhanced/novel RRM
functionalities
Standardises near-RealTime
RIC open and modular
reference architecture, which is
based on Radio-Network
Information Base and Network
Topology, allowing
on-boarding of RAN control
applications and is compliant
with A1/O1/E1/E2 interfaces
Provides next-gen RRM with
embedded intelligence, while
optionally accommodating
legacy RRM
Enhances challenging functions
such as per-UE controlled
load-balancing, RB
management, interference
detection and mitigation
Virtualised RAN to accelerate 5G
Provides 5GC aligned with 3GPP.
Releases 15 and beyond with
support for Slicing, eMBMS, MCx
and Private LTE
STL’s programmable RAN
pRAN Architecture Overview
5G enabled vEPC: Decoupling the EPC can simplifies the operation and management of
packet cores via smart automation and smart orchestration of the provisioning and
operation procedures. Also components can be provisioned and can be scaled based on
diverse and time varying control and data plane traffic requirements.
Non-RT RIC (Non-Real
time RAN Intelligent
Controller)
Non-RT functions include
applications that can serve
upto < 1s applications that
include service and policy
management, RAN
analytics and
model-training for the
near-RT applications.
pRAN Architecture Overview
Near-RT RIC (Near-Real
time RAN Intelligent
Controller)
RIC near-RT include
applications that can serve
upto < 100ms latency and is
completely compatible with
legacy RRM and begins by
enhancing well understood,
but operational challenging
functions such as per-UE
controlled load-balancing,
RB management,
interference detection and
mitigation.
pRAN enabling strategy with ONF and O-RAN Alliance
CU/DU Protocol stack
The primary goal of the
CU/DU protocol stack
are to implement the
control commands
issued by the RIC
near-RT module
through E2 interface
and to provide FCAPS
information to
Orchestrator via A1
interface.
pRAN Value Proposition
STL is closely aligned with Open Network Foundation (ONF) and Open Radio Access
Network (O-RAN) for enabling pRAN with following approach:
Leading the industry
towards open,
interopreable interfaces,
RAN virtualization, and
big data-enabled
RAN intelligence
A 5G-driven future with programmable RAN
Maximizing the use of
common off-the-shelf
hardware and merchant
silicon and minimzing
propreitary hardware
Non-RT RIC (Non-Real time RAN Intelligent Controller)
Specifying APIs and
interfaces, driving
standards to adopt them
as appropriate and
exploring source when
appropriate
Near-RT RIC (Near-Real time RAN Intellige
SDN and NFV offer the capability to configure, scale, and reconfigure logical nodes through
software commands, enabling RAN to dynamically adjust to changing traffic conditions,
hardware faults, as well as new service requirements. This will be achieved by separating
logical nodes suitable for virtualization (on a GPP) and designing functions that require
specialized hardware to be dynamically (re)configurable on an SPP.
pRAN Value Proposition
CU/DU Protocol stack
pRAN provides the capability to configure, scale and reconfigure logical nodes through
software commands that enables RAN to dynamically adjust to changing traffic conditions,
hardware faults as well as new service requirements. It supports QoE-based load balancing
and QoE-aware ICIC effectively via SDN-based RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). The data
from the network can be fed to machine learning models which can provide practical usage
benefits like optimising handover for cars driving along a highway, or load-balancing, or
power-saving to start. Additionally, 5GC will have the capability to provide specific slices to
support ultra reliable low latency communication, massive machine type communication
and mobile broadband.
Download whitepaper
