Search

Fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems are currently implemented worldwide. Moreover, the diversity between different deployments is growing, from operator-deployed macro networks to local private networks. The 5G system is very flexible with a large number of parameters and configurations impacting platform performance. With the availability of private spectrum and open-source software, there is an increasing possibility to get insight into what performance can be achieved in different dimensions, and how it depends on the configuration of various parameters, through experiments and testing. This paper presents a detailed account of a 5G Standalone (SA) platform based on the open5GS and srsRAN software suites installed on a general-purpose workstation. The performance of the platform is measured and compared to theoretical results and information from the 3GPP standardisation documentation. While some aspects of the performance are close to the theoretical expectations, others are further away. The software-defined radio (SDR) platform and the lack of hardware acceleration are probably the main limiting factors on coverage, uplink throughput and latency. The paper goes through several radio parameters and their impact on performance and discusses the performance implications and limitations of the experimental platform to share the lessons learned.

Radio Access Network (RAN) virtualization stands as a pivotal concept in the realm of 5G networks and beyond. It emerges as a viable solution not only to address energy cost concerns but also to optimize material and radio resource management. Despite numerous deployment trials worldwide, a comprehensive realization of Virtual RAN (V-RAN) remains elusive. Current platforms tackle various aspects of V-RAN but encounter numerous limitations. In this paper, we conduct a survey on the progress of RAN virtualization to date and discuss the persisting barriers to its full realization in future mobile radio networks. Initially, we revisit the fundamentals of virtualization and its evolution over recent decades, elucidating the distinctions between Cloud RAN (C-RAN), V-RAN, and Open RAN concepts. Subsequently, we offer an in-depth tutorial on the implementation procedures of V-RAN as per different vendors. Lastly, we shed light on persisting issues within vendor platforms and demonstrate, via simulations, the constraints on their performance concerning supported Base Band Units (BBUs) and devices, as well as coordination among various entities.