5G C-RAN Functional Split Implementation

5G technology in mobile networks has been motivated by the huge increase of data traffic and the new vertical applications containing complex Quality-of-Service (QoS). Cloud Radio-Access-Network (C-RAN) was identified as a very notable and effective approach for dealing with the vertical applications.

The key concept beyond C-RAN is to separate the base station radio unit creating a decoupled functional split consisted of a Distributed Unit (DU) and Centralized Unit (CU). This functional split will bring many advantages such as lower cost, network expansion and virtualization and increase network performance.

This Thesis is mainly an implementation and analysis of the 5G and LTE standards, C-RAN architecture and its corresponding protocols used. Moreover, new concepts may be suggested to overcome the C-RAN limitations.

This work can be extended with the implementation of the software on a software defined radio (SDR) platform.

Subtasks:

- Literature research on 5G and LTE C-RAN.
- Implementation of the C-RAN functional split with an equivalent 5G or LTE open source code.
- New concept proposal to overcome C-RAN limitations.
- Development of a testbench for C++ implementation.
- Most of the work will be using Linux, C++, and Matlab.

Art der Arbeit: Research Project / Master

Vorkenntnisse/Anforderungen: Working independently, good programming skills in C++, good knowledge of mobile communication.

Kontakt: Charbel Lahoud

Example of an LTE/5G functional split.