The Blurring RAN

Next-generation RANs need to deal with several challenges to provide high spectral efficiency, low power consumption, resource pooling, scalability, and cross-layer interworking. For that, leading standardization bodies (3GPP and O-RAN) envision virtualized architectures, in which base station functions (whose full protocol stack was traditionally located close to the antenna towers) are virtualized and distributed in different logical nodes, connected through fronthaul and midhaul links, that in turn are connected to the core network through backhaul links. Thus, at the RAN, the baseband processing of a single cell is disaggregated between different physical baseband entities using specific functional splits, while at the same time parts of the baseband processing of multiple cells are collocated in centralized locations, where the needed baseband resources can be shared. This trend leads to a RAN that is distributed depending on network conditions and provider policies, and it is in this sense that the RAN borders are blurred.

6G BLUR focuses on 6G disaggregated and virtualized architectures in order to manage efficiently the network, considering both the RAN and the core domains. It is organized in two sub-projects, 6GBLUR-SMART that targets the smart management and intelligent decision-making of the RAN, and 6GBLUR-JOINT that targets the end-to-end architecture from a holistic point of view including the joint management of the RAN, core, and transport segments.

6GBLUR will derive efficient end-to-end resource management procedures and smart decision-making control mechanisms for virtualized, adaptive, and blurring mobile network architectures. The resources to manage can be distributed and disaggregated through the mobile network, and include spectrum, network capacity, fronthaul resources, baseband processing functions, energy, computing, or storage. To manage the resources from an end-to-end perspective and control the network smartly, in real-time and non-real time, we will exploit AI/ML processes, targeting specific use cases such as: 1) 6G disaggregated zero-touch mobile networks as a service in O-RAN architectures and non-public networks (NPNs). 2) Control mechanisms for network optimization targeting jointly the fronthaul capacity and centralization, QoS management and flexible functional splits, as well as digital twins for NPN networks. 3) RAN control architectures and smart algorithms in O-RAN and NPN architectures.

Firms and Institutions Involved in 6G-BLUR