Abstract—Bharti Airtel has recently completed a successful trial of Nokia’s 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) Cloud Radio Access Network (RAN) solution in India. This trial signifies a pivotal step in Airtel’s network evolution, aiming to enhance customer experience through improved network performance, automation, and scalability.
Introduction
The rapid deployment of 5G networks necessitates innovative solutions to meet escalating demands for performance and flexibility. Cloud RAN emerges as a transformative approach, enabling operators to virtualize network functions and achieve scalable, agile, and automated networks. This paper examines Bharti Airtel’s recent trial of Nokia’s Cloud RAN technology, highlighting its implications for network evolution and service delivery.
Trial Overview
In July 2024, Bharti Airtel, in collaboration with Nokia, conducted a trial of Nokia’s 5G NSA Cloud RAN solution on Airtel’s commercial network in India. The trial utilized 3.5 GHz spectrum for 5G and 2100 MHz for 4G, achieving data throughput exceeding 1.2 Gbps with commercial user devices. Nokia’s RAN software for virtualized Distributed Unit (vDU) and Centralized Unit (vCU) was deployed on x86 hardware with a container-as-a-service (CaaS) layer, incorporating Nokia’s Layer 1 (L1) acceleration technology for enhanced power efficiency and performance consistency across hybrid networks.
III. Technological Implications
The successful trial underscores several technological advancements:
– Network Flexibility and Scalability: Implementing Cloud RAN allows for dynamic scaling of network resources, accommodating fluctuating traffic demands efficiently.
– Enhanced Automation: The virtualization of network functions facilitates higher levels of automation, reducing operational complexities and expediting service deployment.
– Energy Efficiency: Nokia’s L1 acceleration technology contributes to improved power efficiency, aligning with sustainable network operation goals.
Strategic Significance
For Bharti Airtel, this trial represents a strategic milestone in their cloudification journey, aiming to integrate cutting-edge technologies to deliver superior customer experiences. The adoption of Nokia’s anyRAN approach enables a hybrid RAN environment, seamlessly integrating Cloud RAN with existing purpose-built RAN deployments. This strategy not only enhances network performance but also positions Airtel to efficiently scale resources and introduce innovative services in the competitive Indian telecom market.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Bharti Airtel and Nokia in trialing the 5G NSA Cloud RAN solution marks a significant advancement in the evolution of 5G networks. The successful implementation demonstrates the potential of Cloud RAN technology to deliver flexible, efficient, and high-performing networks, essential for meeting the growing demands of modern telecommunications.
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