From containers to bits: The evolution of the virtualized community

Over the previous decade, we’ve witnessed a seismic shift within the panorama of cell networks: we’ve moved away from the times of cumbersome, devoted {hardware} that dominated the scene and as an alternative, a brand new period of virtualization has blossomed. Conventional cell networks relied on proprietary {hardware} and software program, making them rigid and resource-intensive. Virtualization, then again, decouples community capabilities from devoted {hardware}, permitting them to run on business off-the-shelf (COTS) servers. This method brings a number of benefits to how cell networks are constructed, managed and operated, together with:

• Versatile useful resource allocation and agile service deployment
• Optimum deployment choices for various calls for
• Lowered vendor lock-in and elevated multi-vendor collaboration, embracing an Open RAN method

As a pioneer in virtualization expertise, Samsung acknowledged the potential early and sought to develop revolutionary options to supply operators with new choices. Samsung’s cloud-native virtualized RAN (vRAN) is already extensively deployed in business networks throughout the globe, bringing better advantages to operators. At this time, Samsung is the market share chief in vRAN and Open RAN as awarded by Dell’Oro in 2023.

The start of vCore: the virtualized core takes middle stage

The journey from containers to bits for cell networks started with the virtualization of the community core (vCore). In 2015, Samsung emerged as a pioneer on this house, launching its vCore answer. The vCore represents the virtualized core community capabilities, together with the Advanced Packet Core (EPC) in 4G networks and the Core in 5G networks. The vCore’s success paved the way in which for Samsung’s Non-Standalone (NSA) vCore for 5G, which was commercially launched in 2019, making Samsung the primary to supply a virtualized 5G core community answer, and its 5G Standalone (SA) vCore in 2021. The 5G SA vCore helps multi-level redundancy, multi-vendor interoperability, and session continuity with geo-redundancy.

Samsung was additionally a forerunner within the CUPS (Management and Consumer Aircraft Separation) structure, integrating it into its business vCore answer. This revolutionary method laid the groundwork for a seamless and streamlined software program improve migration pathway from 4G to 5G.

vCU and vDU: infusing enhanced flexibility into the community

Following the vCore revolution, the main focus shifted in the direction of virtualizing the radio entry community (RAN). This vital element, answerable for connecting consumer gadgets to the core community, was historically comprised of devoted {hardware}. Samsung set its sights on revolutionizing the RAN with its vRAN options.

Samsung’s vRAN journey started with the introduction of its vRAN 1.0 answer in 2017, which featured a virtualized Central Unit (vCU). Subsequent got here the groundbreaking vRAN 2.0 in 2020, which added a virtualized Distributed Unit (vDU), making Samsung a novel vendor to supply a completely virtualized, cloud-native, disaggregated DU and CU. The vCU takes care of the centralized processing duties throughout the RAN, whereas the vDU handles sign processing nearer to the consumer tools. This disaggregation permits for a extra versatile community structure, enabling operators to tailor their networks to fulfill particular wants. The O-RAN compliant answer was rapidly deployed by main cell community operators in large-scale business networks throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

The most recent vRAN 3.0, launched in February 2023, takes virtualization to new heights by enabling extra software-driven, versatile, scalable and clever networks. With enhanced software program capabilities, vRAN 3.0 delivers excellent community efficiency and better power effectivity.

Samsung’s superior vRAN answer affords a plethora of benefits, together with:

• Enhanced agility & scalability: Operators can simply deploy and replace community capabilities in addition to scale up and down their networks based mostly on the particular wants.
• Openness: Samsung’s vRAN embraces openness by incorporating parts from varied distributors, fostering a extra aggressive and dynamic ecosystem.
Highly effective efficiency: Samsung’s vRAN, mixed with its superior 64T64R Large MIMO radios, gives better efficiency by supporting 3 Cell configuration with wider bandwidth of 200MHz.
• Elevated effectivity: Samsung’s vRAN permits operators to automate quite a lot of community capabilities in addition to introduces clever power saving capabilities like CPU Core Sleep Mode and Adaptive Core Allocation which dynamically handle community assets based mostly on knowledge site visitors calls for to save lots of power consumption.

Samsung has been on the forefront of vRAN developments, collaborating with different {industry} companions to push the boundaries of efficiency and effectivity. Samsung was the primary main vendor to deploy wide-scale business vRAN, able to supporting a number of radio entry expertise (Multi-RAT) throughout 2G, 4G, and 5G. As well as, Samsung has created a sturdy ecosystem of companions, which is vital for fulfillment as vRAN and Open RAN method incorporates varied applied sciences and open interfaces past RAN and radios – reminiscent of Cloud-as-a-Service (CaaS) and business off-the-shelf (COTS) servers. Samsung’s dedication to large-scale deployments of vRAN is obvious, with over 38,000 O-RAN compliant vRAN business websites efficiently deployed throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

The vCSR: a brand new path towards end-to-end virtualization

Samsung’s dedication to community virtualization extends past the core and RAN with the current introduction of the digital Cell Website Router (vCSR). Samsung collaborated with key companions on the vCSR, which can permit service suppliers to function networks with end-to-end virtualization, rising flexibility, agility in addition to accelerating the time-to-market (TTM).

The vCSR is a part of a brand new structure the place vDU and CSR capabilities coexist as virtualized community components on one server. By consolidating a number of software program community components on a single vRAN server, the vCSR eliminates the necessity for bodily router {hardware} normally deployed at every cell websites. This method opens the door for extra optimizations, reminiscent of decreased CapEx and OpEx and end-to-end automation with Samsung’s clever community automation options.

Trying forward: embracing the way forward for virtualized networks

Virtualization has ushered in a brand new period of flexibility and scalability for cell networks. By decoupling community capabilities from devoted {hardware}, virtualization has empowered operators to quickly adapt to evolving calls for and ship revolutionary providers with better agility.

Samsung stays on the forefront, driving innovation and shaping the way forward for virtualized networks. With its profitable wide-scale vRAN deployments and its collaboration with different industry-leading companions, Samsung is constant its trailblazing journey for end-to-end virtualized networks.

Creator: Shamik Shah, Sr. Director of RAN Techniques Engineering, Networks Enterprise,
Samsung Electronics America