CU-DU Splitting Introduction

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 Architecture-CU/DU Splitting

CU-DU Logically Split, Physically Integrated or Separated

CU-DU Split Architecture is in Parallel Logical CU-DU Split Architecture (F1 Interface)
with 5G NR Standardization being Defined by 3GPP TS 38.401

2017 2018 2019 Core 5GC

RRC NG NG
CU PDCP NG-RAN

RAN R15 R16 Option 2 gNB Xn-C gNB

RLC gNB-CU

DU MAC
F1 F1
5G Phase 1.1 5G Phase 1.2 5G Phase 2 PHY
gNB-DU gNB-DU
5G RF
NR NSA NR SA Full IMT-2020 NR

Physical Integrated or Separated Rollout is Optional

5G CU-DU Split
Integrated deployment Separated deployment
CU
CU
• 5G CU-DU Split was accepted by 3GPP standard in R15 F1 OR F1
DU
• LTE CU-DU Split is stopped
DU

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 Architecture-CU/DU Splitting

Performance: CU-DU Split Must Guarantee KPIs

RRC signaling deliver distance becomes KPI Splitting CU-DU Delay
longer
Legacy Solution CU-DU Split Solution VoLTE Access Delay + 4 ~ 8 × T2
CN CN
Handover Delay
T3 NG
+4×T2
(intra-site)
T2+T3 CU
NG RRC Handover Delay
PDCP +2×T2
(inter-site with Xn)
T2 F1

BBU
PS Throughput
DU Same
RRC
PDCP
(bps)
RLC RLC
MAC MAC CA & UL CoMP Same
PHY PHY

T2: One way delay of F1 interface

T1 RRU T1 RRU
➔ In CU-DU split scenario, the delay T2 between CU and
UU UU DU must be small (around few ms) in order to avoid any
KPIs impact

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 Architecture-CU/DU Splitting

COTS Architecture vs. ASIC Based Design for BBU Platform

COTS has Low Power & Computing Efficiency based on Comparison Tests
COTS COTS BBU5900
（X86 Estimation） （X86+FPGA Estimation） (Commercial )
D-1567 (Intel® Xeon® D D-1567（Intel® Xeon® D Processor）
CPU ASIC Chipset
Processor） +FEC offload (FPGA)
Cells/Frame
60 60 144
(20MHz LTE 4T4R)
Power Consumption 3333w 2444.4w~2889W 1160W
Frame 3U（depth:508mm） 3U（depth:508mm） 2U（depth:310mm）
Power/Cell 55.6 40.7~48.1 8
Power Efficiency 1/7 1/5~1/6 1

Open vRAN
CU : Computing 5~10% Cabinet Marvell Marvell OCTEON Fusion
Altiostar vBBU
L1 Acc. Card
Quanta
Customized Server QC X100 Acc. card
DU : Computing 90~95% 1050W
Qualcomm
5 Servers (CPU+FPGA)
Source 2022 MWC

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 Architecture-CU/DU Splitting

Tier-1 Operators Select CU+DU with Integrated F1 for Commercial 5G RAN

Operator Architecture Choice for Commercial 5G Rollout

CU+DU with integrated F1

CU+DU with integrated F1

CU+DU with integrated F1

CU+DU with integrated F1

CU+DU with integrated F1

CU+DU with integrated F1

CU+DU with integrated F1

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 Architecture-CU/DU Splitting

CU-DU Split Strategy Outlook for NSA/SA Rollout

Recommended CU-DU with Integrated F1: (1) To keep today network topology (2) MEC near gNB with short latency for uRLLC services
Fronthaul
4G eNodeB / 5G gNodeB X2 interface
AAU WDM WDM CRAN (Hotspots)
Integrated F1 interface
[4G&5G]

400G CORE
X2 interface 50/100G access backbone
UE PE
DRAN RRU
CSG ASG
(Mainstream) BBU

APPs / CDN
4G eNodeB / 5G gNodeB
5G Core (UPF)
E2E Latency <10ms
(uRLLC)
MEP +MEC

Not recommended CU-DU Split with External F1: (1) Main change in topology (4G* vs. 5G) (2) MEC far from gNB with longer latency (3) X2 interface delay
(4) CU reliability (centralized design and cost of backup) CRAN (Hotspots)
Fronthaul X2 interface
F1
AAU WDM WDM Interface 5G gNodeB CU ExternalF1 interface

5G gNodeB
[5G*]

5G gNodeB DU
UE 400G
5G gNodeB CU CORE
RRU backbone

50/100G access ASG PE

BBU
F1 Interface X2 interface
CSG ASG
5G gNodeB DU
DRAN
APPs / CDN
5G Core (UPF)
*) F1 not standardized for 4G
MEP +MEC
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E2E Latency>20ms
Thank you.

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