Cloud-RAN functional split for an efficient fronthaul network

The evolution of telecommunication network towards cloud-native environments enables flexible centralization of the base band processing of radio signals. There is however a trade-off between the centralization benefits and the fronthaul cost for carrying the radio data between distributed antennas and data processing centers, which host the virtual RAN functions. In this paper, we present a specific split solution for an efficient fronthaul, which enables reducing the consumed bandwidth while being compliant with advanced cooperative radio technologies (interference reduction and data rate improvements). The proposed split has been implemented on the basis of Open Air Interface code and shows important gains in the required fronthaul bandwidth as well as significant latency reduction in the processing of radio frames.