Converging Towards Open Radio Access Networks – A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Radio Access Networks (RAN) have been an integral part of the cellular mobile communication systems since the deployment of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) networks and later for the legacy Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems (UMTS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. However, due to increasing demands of the users, throughput, ultra-lower latency, virtualization of the network and to cater the seamless connectivity of millions of wireless devices with the cellular networks, the advent of RAN needs to be brought under consideration. In this paper the traditional RANs are discussed with the necessity for their transition into the Open RAN (ORAN), considering all its essential parameters. The constraints of the legacy RAN architectures are explored with an overview of the RAN intelligent controllers, ORAN and its types. This paper additionally examines the function of artificial intelligence in Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI), enhanched CPRI, and xApps in terms of use cases along with the challenges associated with their deployment. The paper also present challenges and future of ORAN.