Performance Analysis of Evolved RAN Architectures with Open Interfaces

Authors

  • Atanas Vlahov Technical University Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Georgios Kougioumtzidis Technical University Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Albena Mihovska Aarhus University, Denmark
  • Vladimir Poulkov Technical University Sofia, Bulgaria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/jmm1550-4646.19112

Keywords:

Open RAN, multimedia communications, network slicing, functional split

Abstract

The paper presents a short overview of the evolution of the Radio Access Network (RAN) towards virtualized, open and intelligent RAN architectures. Major KPIs used for performance analysis in the process of the evolution of the RAN are identified. KPIs that are considered of primary importance for ensuring high-quality multimedia communications (MMC) in a scenario of wireless Radio Access Networks based on 4G/5G Open-RAN architectures are measured and analyzed. Different split scenarios according to the O-RAN specifications are considered, as well as relevant to MMC KPIs, such as round trip time, delay jitter and packet loss. Although the variation in the results from the evaluation of these parameters in different RAN architecture scenarios is not drastic, in the context of MMC and future near to-real time services, the results show advantages of these scenarios over legacy RAN architectures. In addition, we propose a network slicing model for optimizing the network performance and enhancing the quality of MMC, by implementing optimal utilization of network resources.

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Author Biographies

Atanas Vlahov, Technical University Sofia, Bulgaria

Atanas Vlahov has received his BSc and MSc degrees in Telecommunications from Technical University of Sofia (TUS), Bulgaria, in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Currently he is a PhD student in the Faculty of Telecommunication of TUS. His current research interests in the field of telecommunications are related to Open Radio Access Network and Software Defined Networks.

Georgios Kougioumtzidis, Technical University Sofia, Bulgaria

Georgios Kougioumtzidis received the B.Sc. degree in electronics engineering from the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, in 2007, the M.Sc. degree in wireless communication systems from the Open University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus, in 2017, and the M.A. degree in acoustic design and multimedia from the Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece, in 2018. From 2013 to 2020 he was with the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Thessaloniki, Greece. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at the Faculty of Telecommunications, Technical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria, as recipient of an Early Stage Researcher (ESR) position in European Union’s Horizon 2020 MOTOR5G project. His research interests include QoE enhancement in future wireless networks, open radio access networks, machine learning, and extended reality and holographic telepresence communications.

Albena Mihovska, Aarhus University, Denmark

Albena Mihovska received the Ph.D. degree in mobile communications from Aalborg University, Denmark. Since 2017, she has been an Associate Professor with the Department of Business Development and Technology, Aarhus University, Denmark, where she is leading the research activities of the 6G Knowledge Laboratory, with a focus on 6G connectivity and enabling technologies, namely artificial intelligence, and advanced services and applications, such as augmented and extended reality (AR and XR), high-fidelity and real time mobile hologram, and digital twins. She is currently a Senior Research and Academic Professional. She has more than 150 scientific publications.

Vladimir Poulkov, Technical University Sofia, Bulgaria

Vladimir Poulkov received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the Technical University of Sofia (TUS), Sofia, Bulgaria. He has more than 30 years of teaching, research, and industrial experience in the field of telecommunications. He has been the Dean of the Faculty of the Telecommunications, TUS, and the Vice Chairman of the General Assembly of the European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI). He is currently a professor. He is also the Head of the “Teleinfrastructure” Research and Development Laboratory at TUS and the Chairman of Cluster for Digital Transformation and Innovation, Bulgaria. He has successfully managed numerous industrial, engineering, research and development, and educational projects. He has authored many scientific publications and is tutoring the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. courses in the field of information transmission theory and wireless access networks. He is a fellow of the European Alliance for Innovation.

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Published

2022-09-20

How to Cite

Vlahov, A. ., Kougioumtzidis, G. ., Mihovska, A. ., & Poulkov, V. . (2022). Performance Analysis of Evolved RAN Architectures with Open Interfaces. Journal of Mobile Multimedia, 19(01), 239–262. https://doi.org/10.13052/jmm1550-4646.19112

Issue

2023: Vol 19 Iss 1

Section

Articles

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