Aricent Co-Creates Virtualized LTE Open RAN Reference Solution


Solution co-created with Intel, Fairwaves and Baicell enables service providers to support dense deployment, deliver consistent Quality of Service over 4G and prepare for 5G

LONDON, Oct. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TIP Summit - Aricent today announced it is co-creating a General-Purpose Processor (GPP) based Virtualized LTE RAN reference solution with Intel, Fairwaves and Baicell. The reference solution will provide 4G RAN services for high capacity deployment. The innovative reference solution has virtualized LTE RAN Layer 3, Layer 2 and Upper Layer 1 hosted on GPP based Central Unit (CU) and Lower Layer 1 hosted on Remote Radio Unit (RRU). CU communicates RRU over eCPRI/Ethernet. The solution is based on 3GPP Option 7-x functional split.

Aricent is the lead software integrator of the solution. The reference solution utilizes Aricent 4G LTE RAN software framework based on Cloud-RAN architecture. The reference solution builds on the Intel FlexRAN reference architecture, catering to the high capacity solution requirements. Cloud based CU interacts with Baicell and Fairwaves RRU. Network Equipment Provider (NEPs) can monetize the reference solution supported on GPP to provide LTE solutions for urban market needs. The architecture and solution can be readily enhanced for 5G.

The wireless state-of-the-art solution has an advantage over system over chip (SoC) solutions. It is more advanced and provides better scalability and cost efficiencies. Urban deployment necessitates high capacity cells as well dense deployment of cell equipment. Conventional solutions lead to higher capital and operational costs as all the cells have to be deployed to deliver maximum capacity. In addition, dense deployments lead to signal interference at the cell edge. Given the mobility of users during different times of the day, virtualization makes capacity allocation seamless and scalable to meet the different types of demand for coverage, providing the pooling gain. With an increasing amount of Layer 1 technologies, such as small cells, moving to the cloud, interference at the cell edge can be reduced with advanced features such as Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) transmission.

N. Mohan Rangan, Chief Engineering Officer at Aricent said: “Small cell deployments have increased dramatically and analysts estimate that the market could be worth $2.8 billion by 20221. That’s remarkable and a valuable opportunity for NEPs.”

Mohan concluded: “We can get an edge free radio network. The solution can truly deliver the high capacity deployment requirements of 4G and 5G while reducing Capex and Opex.”

About Aricent

Aricent is a global design and engineering company innovating for customers in the digital era. We help our clients lead into the future by solving their most complex and mission critical issues through customized solutions. For decades, we have helped companies do new things and scale with intention. We bring differentiated value and capability in focused industries to help transform products, brands and companies. Based in San Francisco, frog, the global leader in innovation and design, is a part of Aricent. Aricent is a part of the Altran Group.

Learn more about Aricent at www.aricent.com.

About Altran

Altran ranks as the undisputed global leader in Engineering and R&D services (ER&D), following its acquisition of Aricent. The company offers clients an unmatched value proposition to address their transformation and innovation needs. Altran works alongside its clients, from initial concept through industrialization, to invent the products and services of tomorrow. For over 30 years, the company has provided expertise in aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, finance, life sciences, railway and telecommunications. The Aricent acquisition extends this leadership to semiconductors, digital experience and design innovation. Combined, Altran and Aricent generated revenues of €2.9 billion in 2017, with some 45,000 employees in more than 30 countries.

Aricent media and analyst contact:
Juhie.gorwara@aricent.com

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1 IHS Markit, Small cell market surges in 2017, energized by rural, remote and indoor deployments – March 23 2018