Synchronization challenges in packet-based Cloud-RAN fronthaul for mobile networks

Aleksandra Checko; Anders Christian Juul; Henrik Lehrmann Christiansen; Michael Stübert Berger

doi:10.1109/ICCW.2015.7247590

Synchronization challenges in packet-based Cloud-RAN fronthaul for mobile networks

Aleksandra Checko, Anders Christian Juul, Henrik Lehrmann Christiansen, Michael Stübert Berger

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

In this paper, we look at reusing existing packet-based network (e.g. Ethernet) to possibly decrease deployment costs of fronthaul Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) network and cost of Baseband Unit (BBU) resources. The challenge of this solution is that it requires mobile traffic (until now transmitted over synchronous protocols) to traverse the asynchronous Ethernet without losing synchronization. We analyze synchronization requirements of mobile networks and present an overview of solutions that fulfill them in traditional mobile networks. Then we elaborate on challenges that packet-based fronthaul imposes. We analyze possible contributions to frequency and phase error. We verify the feasibility of using the IEEE 1588v2 also know as Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for providing accurate phase and frequency synchronization. The study is based on simulations made in OPNET modeler. Thereby we bridge the gap between Ethernet and mobile network domains creating a comprehensive architectural analysis.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of Workshop on Cloud-Processing in Heterogeneous Mobile Communication Networks
Publisher	IEEE
Publication date	2015
Pages	2721-2726
ISBN (Print)	978-1-4673-6305-1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCW.2015.7247590
Publication status	Published - 2015
Event	2nd International Workshop on Cloud-Processing in Heterogeneous Mobile Communication Networks - London, United Kingdom Duration: 8 Jun 2015 → 12 Jun 2015

Workshop

Workshop	2nd International Workshop on Cloud-Processing in Heterogeneous Mobile Communication Networks
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	London
Period	08/06/2015 → 12/06/2015

Keywords

Cloud RAN
Mobile networks
Ethernet
Synchronization
PTP
IEEE 1588v2

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10.1109/ICCW.2015.7247590

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@inproceedings{184f0224f51b439983a8581d570f8aae,

title = "Synchronization challenges in packet-based Cloud-RAN fronthaul for mobile networks",

abstract = "In this paper, we look at reusing existing packet-based network (e.g. Ethernet) to possibly decrease deployment costs of fronthaul Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) network and cost of Baseband Unit (BBU) resources. The challenge of this solution is that it requires mobile traffic (until now transmitted over synchronous protocols) to traverse the asynchronous Ethernet without losing synchronization. We analyze synchronization requirements of mobile networks and present an overview of solutions that fulfill them in traditional mobile networks. Then we elaborate on challenges that packet-based fronthaul imposes. We analyze possible contributions to frequency and phase error. We verify the feasibility of using the IEEE 1588v2 also know as Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for providing accurate phase and frequency synchronization. The study is based on simulations made in OPNET modeler. Thereby we bridge the gap between Ethernet and mobile network domains creating a comprehensive architectural analysis.",

keywords = "Cloud RAN, Mobile networks, Ethernet, Synchronization, PTP, IEEE 1588v2",

author = "Aleksandra Checko and Juul, {Anders Christian} and Christiansen, {Henrik Lehrmann} and Berger, {Michael St{\"u}bert}",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1109/ICCW.2015.7247590",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-4673-6305-1",

pages = "2721--2726",

booktitle = "Proceedings of Workshop on Cloud-Processing in Heterogeneous Mobile Communication Networks",

publisher = "IEEE",

address = "United States",

note = "2nd International Workshop on Cloud-Processing in Heterogeneous Mobile Communication Networks, IWCPM 2015 ; Conference date: 08-06-2015 Through 12-06-2015",

}

Checko, A, Juul, AC, Christiansen, HL & Berger, MS 2015, Synchronization challenges in packet-based Cloud-RAN fronthaul for mobile networks. in Proceedings of Workshop on Cloud-Processing in Heterogeneous Mobile Communication Networks. IEEE, pp. 2721-2726, 2nd International Workshop on Cloud-Processing in Heterogeneous Mobile Communication Networks, London, United Kingdom, 08/06/2015. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCW.2015.7247590

Synchronization challenges in packet-based Cloud-RAN fronthaul for mobile networks. / Checko, Aleksandra; Juul, Anders Christian; Christiansen, Henrik Lehrmann et al.
Proceedings of Workshop on Cloud-Processing in Heterogeneous Mobile Communication Networks. IEEE, 2015. p. 2721-2726.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

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AB - In this paper, we look at reusing existing packet-based network (e.g. Ethernet) to possibly decrease deployment costs of fronthaul Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) network and cost of Baseband Unit (BBU) resources. The challenge of this solution is that it requires mobile traffic (until now transmitted over synchronous protocols) to traverse the asynchronous Ethernet without losing synchronization. We analyze synchronization requirements of mobile networks and present an overview of solutions that fulfill them in traditional mobile networks. Then we elaborate on challenges that packet-based fronthaul imposes. We analyze possible contributions to frequency and phase error. We verify the feasibility of using the IEEE 1588v2 also know as Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for providing accurate phase and frequency synchronization. The study is based on simulations made in OPNET modeler. Thereby we bridge the gap between Ethernet and mobile network domains creating a comprehensive architectural analysis.

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Synchronization challenges in packet-based Cloud-RAN fronthaul for mobile networks

Abstract

Workshop

Keywords

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