Summary Bullets:
- The deployment of 5G networks will require innovation in the radio access network (RAN) as well as the network core. Most discussions of 5G network transformations, however have focused on the RAN alone.
- Outside of the RAN, 5G will require changes to the mobile core, SDN/NFV implementations, OSS/BSS, analytics, orchestration, self optimizing networks (SON) and cloud systems. Executing on those changes successfully will require service providers to begin identifying (and messaging) their requirements.
Founded in 1991, ETIS bills itself as “The Community for Telecom Professionals.” What this translates into is an information sharing organization bringing together telecom service providers to tackle pressing issues along diverse business lines and business imperatives: Procurement, Innovation, OSS/BSS, Business Intelligence, CIO. Current Analysis has been fortunate to work with ETIS for several years. This year, we joined their Community Gathering in Zagreb (October 13-14) to talk about 5G – specifically, the impact 5G will on telecom networks beyond the RAN. You can find a a copy of our presentation here.
5G RAN innovations have gotten a lot of attention from vendors and telecom service providers, and with good reason; a new air interface, new spectrum bands (mmWave) and new spectrum architectures (unlicensed / shared) all point to the need for critical new RAN R&D and RAN solutions. Yet if we recognize that 5G will be more than just the radio access network, we need to acknowledge the need for 5G-oriented core network innovations as well. Continue reading “5G Implications on the Network Core: Moving Beyond Vagaries”