Computerization Of Latest 5G Networks
One of the big news coming out of this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) show in Barcelona is that the world of network infrastructure is making big changes. Not only is the technology behind the fast-paced 5G networks, so are companies now involved in the market.
Not only do traditional network vendor vendors like Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung Networks, but it also make a large list of traditional technology vendors like Microsoft, Dell, IBM, Intel, and Marvell, often integrated and carriers like AT&T.
On the technical side, we have been hearing about concepts like vRAN (virtualized Radio Access Network) and Open RAN for a long time, but it is clear from the many announcements made on the show that these ideas are becoming a reality on major telcos around the world. the earth.
In a similar way, mobile-based computer applications (technically Multiple-Access Edge Computing — abbreviated as MEC) also appear to move from conceptual prototypes to real-world solutions based on the stories from the show.
When you take a step back and analyze these ads with a larger picture view, it becomes clear that the performance of mobile networks and their increased power are actually being transformed into the software-based workload. In simple English, they are “computerized.”
Of course, some of these are not new. The transition from critical network operations carried out by dedicated computer systems to software-driven virtual machines on what are commonly called VNFs (virtualized network operations) has been going on for years on business networks.
The reliability requirements of the "network-level" solutions awaited by large telcos have reduced their use of mobile networks, however. Based on the announcements made at the exhibition, it seems that the work is progressing well.
Additionally, for all computer applications brought in to enable these contextual network functions, additional computer-based applications are built into the network. The first hype around 5G highlighted the fact that these embedded computer capabilities were supposed to be the main difference of 5G over 4G (in addition to faster download speeds). But again, it is only now that it seems that the pieces are inserted to make the ideal fit.
Of course, in view of these changes to virtual networks, the development of cloud-based software, and robust computer requirements that integrate these functions, is no small feat. It is amazing to see the growing level of interest and participation from major technology retailers. Indeed, at this year’s MWC, there have been many examples of the growing influence large technology companies have on 5G network infrastructure and services they can use - either on their own or in partnership with carriers.
Microsoft, for example, has unveiled an additional Azure for Operators offering, called Azure Operator Distributed Services, which focuses on empowering the basic functionality of the 5G network using the company's Azure cloud computing platform.
The company also announced the Azure Private 5G Core public preview and the private Azure Operator 5G Core preview. Both of these are designed to allow carriers (and individual businesses in the context of Private 5G provisioning) the ability to run important network functions as a service to traditional computer servers using the Azure platform.
Microsoft has also partnered with AT&T on the new Private 5G Edge service, using Azure Private 5G Core and the previously released Azure Private MEC to allow devices to roam the ATMT 5G mobile network.
AT&T has announced a partnership with IBM to develop new applications that can use the previous 5G network with the latest cloud offerings. The companies had previously announced that they were working together at AT&T's 5G Innovation Lab. The latest news highlights the work they have done to create role models that can be used as testimonials for companies in industries such as manufacturing, health care, and education.
In the third phase of the technology industry, AT&T also announced its efforts in partnership with Intel's FlexRAN software platform, which has the capability called DU (Distributed Unit) integration (especially Class II DU Pooling). The DU component of RAN is where data packets from the Internet are converted into radio transmissions via RU (Radio Unit) located inside the mobile tower to connected devices. As traffic loads increased, the need for computational power to make that change also changed, but in the construction of a traditional network, there was no easy way to achieve that. In the world defined by modern 5G network software, however, DU integration allows for faster measurement up and down of required resources, as is the case in cloud computing environments.
Well, Intel being Intel, the company also has new chips that they released for the first time at MWC. The company has introduced several new server-specific offerings designed to accelerate these and other types of network infrastructure, vRAN-focused workloads. The new Xeon D edge processor, as its name suggests, is designed for mobile edge network applications. Intel also announced that its next generation of Sapphire Rapids server CPUs will incorporate additional command sets designed to speed up RAN signal processing.
In another sign of the emergence of software-based semiconductors, open network structures, Marvell announced that its Arm-based OCTEON Fusion-based component has been used on Dell's new Open RAN card. Utilizing the ability to accelerate OCTEON Fusion network performance, the Dell Open RAN Accelerator represents another pioneer in the computer industry to drive the adoption of powerful computer hardware, optimized for 5G networks. Especially interesting
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