Packet Fronthaul

Design choices towards

versatile RAN deployments

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 Agenda

●RAN interface and deployment evolution

●Lower layer split options
●CRAN deployments with switched packet fronthaul
●Key takeaways

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 RAN interface evolution

●2-8 TRX branches

●20 MHz carriers
●Up to 8 layers

●64-256 TRX branches

●100 MHz carriers
●Up to 16 layers
●Multi-band
(incl. high-band)

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 Distributed RAN deployments (DRAN)

● Main deployment
scenario today
● RF-PHY lower-layer split
● Time-domain
multiplexing in CPRI
● Hard-wired point to
point CPRI fibers/radio
(parallel, WDM)
● Leased line backhaul
or microwave
● Fronthaul peak-
dimensioning
● RU daisy chaining
and link multiplexing
to baseband

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 5G NR deployments (CRAN & DRAN)

● Packet switching
eCPRI, F1/coordination
interface, etc
● Intra-PHY lower-layer
split
● Dark fiber/self-built
fiber or microwave
● D-RAN and C-RAN
deployments
● Trunking gain (statistical
multiplexing)
● Fronthaul average-
dimensioning
/provisioning

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 Complementary Deployment Options

Suburban area Dense urban area

• Moderate traffic • High traffic
• Homogenous network (mainly macro, no micro) • Heterogeneous networks (macro and micro)
• Upgradable backhaul capacity (microwave, leased lines) • Access to existing fiber and hub/data center facilities

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 CPRI and eCPRI

2G/3G/4G 5G NR & 4G
CPRI RAN Compute eCPRI RAN Compute
Baseband Baseband
● Supported since 2003 for L3 ● Introduced in 2017 to support L3
GSM, WCDMA , LTE, 5G new radios for 5G
L2 L2
● CPRI is TDM based ● eCPRI is packet based
L1 L1
● CPRI is constant bit- ● Bandwidth scales with carrier
rate, independent of actual bandwidth & number of layers
user traffic CPRI and actual user traffic eCPRI
● Bandwidth requirement scales ● Enable efficient fronthaul
with carrier bandwidth & networking
number of radio branches L1
Radio Radio
Antenna Antenna

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 Alternative technologies to utilize CPRI
radios– RoE and Conversion

Radio over Ethernet (RoE) Conversion

● Mapping CPRI to Ethernet ● Converts CPRI to eCPRI
● Book-ended solution ● 60% to 80% bandwidth
CPRI
● Point-to-point configurations savings depending on CPRI
Fronthaul GW
configuration Fronthaul GW
● Encapsulates the constant bit- Ethernet
● Fewer fiber needed compared
rate into ethernet packets through RoE
with RoE eCPRI through
● Can achieve up to 20% conversion
● No book-ended solution
bandwidth saving with line Fronthaul GW

code removal CPRI ● Enable efficient fronthaul

networking
● Baseband
Baseband

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 Centralized RAN
Radio sites connect to centralized hub site
A large CRAN with a high number of connections from radios
to basebands posing a challenge for system dimensioning,
configuration and deploy ability
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Target CRAN characteristics
● Efficiency – make use of the statistical aggregation
possibilities in eCPRI/LLS
● Flexibility – allow for connectivity between all radios
and all basebands
● Scalability – small to large CRAN deployments using
the same architectural principles
● Resiliency – a robust network to minimize effects
of failures
● Simplicity – a network easy to dimension and deploy
● RAN-agnostic – support both purpose-built and
cloud-native RAN networks
 Centralized RAN
Creating CRAN clusters

Structuring the CRAN into a system of identical

smaller clusters gives several benefits and creates
an efficient system that reaches the target CRAN
characteristics
● Supports eCPRI aggregation capabilities
● Improves flexibility and scalability
● Simplifies dimensioning and optimization

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 D-RAN and C-RAN using WDM
18 Radios

• Traditional architecture for macro sites Distributed/De-centralized RAN (D-RAN)

• RAN Computes co-located on the site
with the radio 18 CPRI Links

• Cell site router (CSR) routes traffic to RAN Compute

core network (< 1Gbps)
Backhaul (2 fibers) Transport
CSR Network EPC
Cell Site Router

Centralized RAN (C-RAN) using WDM

• RAN Compute is moved to a central Hub site
Hub site 18 Radios
• The interface between the radio and
RAN compute is either CPRI or eCPRI,
i.e Fronthaul 18 CPRI Links*
One WDM fiber
• WDM technology is often used to
optimize the fiber usage for Fronthaul * (up to 24 links are possible)
Transport
Network

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 Packet Fronthaul in C-RAN

Fronthaul gateway compresses the CPRI

stream and converts to ethernet
Fronthaul gateway can also carry Backhaul
(TN) and E5.
Using Fronthaul Gateways
Hub switches provide cross connect to BBU’s
Hub site
and coordination (CA) connectivity. 18 Radios

L2 Switch Matrix
oConvert CPRI to eCPRI so data can fit into a CAS
100GE link

FH-GW
Dual 100GE Link
oTransport CPRI over RoE tunnels and recreate the Transport
CPRI at the hub site if Conversion is not possible Network

oPacket Fronthaul can utilize redundant 2x 100GE

Ethernet fiber to each macro site
oThe Switch at the hub site directs each
CPRI/eCPRI to its RAN Compute or vDU/vCU

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 WDM and Packet Fronthaul

WDM Fronthaul
● Client agnostic: CPRI, eCPRI and Ethernet
CPRI
● Topology agnostic: PTP, PTMP, ring, protection RAN Compute
Single fiber
● Vendor agnostic: multivendor both for CPRI and eCPRI
eCPRI
● Bit-rate agnostic: up to 1.2 Tbps on fiber pair
● Active/passive solution, semi-active, semi-passive
● Low footprint - integration with RAN, low power consumption, reduced space

Packet Fronthaul
● Packet client only: eCPRI and Ethernet
● CPRI needs to be mapped (e.g. Radio over Ethernet) or converted CPRI>eCPRI
RAN Compute
(e.g. C1/C2 converter) before to be transmitted over the fiber to the BB
● Active solution only eCPRI
● High bandwidth reduction with conversion and aggregation with flexible packet based
transport

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 Packet fronthaul solution using
Router 6673
Benefits
— Efficient transport of both CPRI and eCPRI using either RoE or Conversion
— Reduced TCO by reducing fiber needs 60- 80%
— Support baseband evolution with superior flexibility bandwidth savings

NEW

Router 6673 – offer unique flexibility CPRI Line Card

— 1.5 RU multiservice node — RoE Mode supports CPRI 3, 5, 7 & 8 with
— 800 Gbps with 8 x 10/25GE and 4 x 100 GE ports structure agnostic linecode aware
— Three line card slots, for 9 port CPRI line card, or — Software upgradable to support conversion of
Ethernet line card Ericsson CPRI 3, 5, 7 & 8 to eCPRI
— Support Class C sync, G.8275.1 and G.8275.2 T-BC
with integrated T-GM with Ericsson GPS/GRU
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 Router 6673 and Line Card options

• Up to 800 Gpbs full duplex forwarding

RPSW-800-S
capacity 4x1/10/25GE 4x10/25GE 4x100GE

• Three slots for Line Cards

• LC-01 8x10/25GE SFP28
• LC-02 2x40/100GE QSFP28
• LC-04 8xGE/10GE SFP+
LC-01 8x10/25GE
• LC-05 9xCPRI(-40ºC to 55ºC )
LC-02 2x40/100GE
• CPRI line card for RoE or Conversion:
• 9 CPRI over RoE tunnels to a hub line card, or
LC-04 8x1/10GE
• 9 CPRI to eCPRI terminating in 25G eCPRI port
in hub RAN Compute
LC-05 9xCPRI

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 Router 6673: Flexible Line Card configuration
for seven different use cases
Slot 1

Slot 2 Slot 3

Slot 4

LC-01 = 25GE Cell Site Router Antenna site Antenna site RoE Antenna Antenna site Hub-site Hub-site
with Ericsson with eCPRI site with CPRI* with support of configuration configuration
LC-02 = 100GE
CPRI and eCPRI radios and eCPRI both RoE and 25GE break-out with 100GE
LC-05 = CPRI RoE radios radios Conversion
LC-05 = CPRI Conv Slot 1
RPSW RPSW RPSW RPSW RPSW RPSW RPSW
Slot 2 Dummy Plate
LC-01 LC-01 LC-01 LC-01 LC-01 LC-01
Slot 3 Dummy Plate
LC-05 Dummy Plate
LC-05 LC-05 LC-01 LC-01
Slot 4 Dummy Plate
LC-05 Dummy Plate
LC-05 LC-05 LC-01 LC-02
* Ericsson CPRI radios with Conversion support and/or non-Ericsson radios
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 Router 6678

4.8Tbps switch capacity

30 x 100GE QSFP28 + 4 x 400GE QSFP-DD

100GE optimized for backhaul aggregation sites and
1 RU, 19" form factor. 550mm depth
central hub sites
Class C Sync Part of Ericsson Packet Fronthaul solution aggregating
World’s smallest 100GE from macro sites
Native SRv6
high-power radio Built for high reliability with redundant PSU, FAN

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Packet Fronthaul in a hybrid scenario

• Three packet fronthaul use cases: 5G NR (CBAND)

• Transport of legacy CPRI over RoE tunnels 4G LTE
(Radio over Ethernet)
• Conversion of legacy CPRI to eCPRI
• Transport of native eCPRI from eCPRI radios

• Transports RAN coordination information via Fronthaul

CPRI
Xn/E5 from the site RAN Compute to the RAN (eCPRI)

Compute in the hub to support carrier aggregation

(CA)
E5

• Backhaul from site RAN Compute also connects 4G LTE BBU

Mixed Mode
across the 100GE to the hub to enable > 1GE BBU
throughput. E5
Dual 100GE
Backhaul (TN) FHGW 5G BBU

• Sync is transported to the site via PtP Fronthaul Gateway Hub site

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 Deployment scenario: Packet Fronthaul in
C-RAN networks
• Packetize the C-RAN Hub Site
CPRI Radios eCPRI Radios
transport
• CPRI/eCPRI to radios
eCPRI/TN/Xn/E5/F Basebands
• CPRI conversion to 1
eCPRI or RoE CV
eCPRI/NG/Enterprise
• 25/100GE between Router 6673 CV
sites

Router 6678
Streetmacro CC
• CPRI/eCPRI to RAN Antenna site
Compute in Hub
VC
• L2 forwarding, sync V
distribution, resiliency
IP Network
handling
• Enterprise traffic
TN/Enterprise (backhaul)
• Integrated management
solution to simplify
transport and RAN
operations
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 Router 667x in the CRAN hub

Antenna site
Hub site TN/F1

eCPRI
Router 6673 Router 6678 TN Router 6000
eCPRI/E5/TN
CPRI/eCPRI
Baseband hotel
TN/F1
eCPRI/E5/TN/F1(400G)

eCPRI/F1 F1
ToR/Router 6678

Router 6678 Router 6000

Streetmacro Antenna site

TN/E5
vDUl
eCPRI/E5/TN TN/F1
Router 6673
CPRI/eCPRI ● Aggregate incoming 100G links from antenna sites
eCPRI/E5/TN
● Transport sync from baseband to radio
Baseband ● Part of RAN domain

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 Supporting any deployment scenario,
adding Ericsson Cloud RAN
RAN
Compute
— Distributed RAN
eCPRI
Radio — Centralized RAN
Cloud Cloud
RAN DU RAN CU

RAN
Compute

CPRI Radio-
Radio /Packet
Gateway
Cloud Cloud
RAN DU RAN CU
Core NW

RAN
Compute

eCPRI
Radio
Cloud Cloud
RAN DU RAN CU Need to transport both CPRI and eCPRI
Handle high capacities and low latency
RAN Support any radio to any baseband type of
Compute
configurations
CPRI Radio/
Radio Packet
Gateway
Cloud Cloud
RAN DU RAN CU

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 Router 6678 in Cloud RAN

Antenna site

Hub site TN/F1

eCPRI
Router 6673 Router 6678 TN Router 6000
eCPRI/E5/TN
eCPRI/E5/TN
CPRI/eCPRI
Baseband hotel
TN/F1

eCPRI/F1 F1
ToR/Router 6678

Router 6678 Router 6000

Streetmacro Antenna site

TN/E5
vDUl
eCPRI/E5/TN TN/F1
Router 6673
CPRI/eCPRI
eCPRI/E5/TN
Router 6678 as ToR (Top of the Rack switch)
Baseband ●Aggregate traffic from vDU servers

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 Expansion of 5G network
and C-band spectrum build
Challenge
C-band spectrum is critical for the
deployment of 5G in the U.S. and
new architecture will support
future network enhancements
including Centralized RAN
evolving to Cloud RAN
● AT&T’s goal of covering 70-
75 million people with 5G
over C-Band by end of 2022
and plans to reach 200
million by end of 2023
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Solution
● AT&T’s network evolution is
made possible in part by the
Ericsson Radio System
portfolio, which includes the
Advanced Antenna System,
Advanced RAN Coordination
and Carrier Aggregation
technologies.
● The solution supports a
centralized RAN architecture
enabled by Ericsson Fronthaul
Gateway, a new technology
that will enable a more
efficient transport of the
fronthaul interface by
converting it to packet
(eCPRI).
AT&T, USA
Result
Bring AT&Ts 5G network to more
consumers, businesses and first
responders across key industries
– including 5G use cases in sports
and venues, entertainment, travel
and transportation, business
transformation and public safety.
It will support future network
enhancements like Cloud RAN,
which offers communications
services providers increased
flexibility, faster delivery of
services and greater scalability in
networks.
“As we continue to expand
our nationwide 5G network,
Ericsson’s technology
offerings and 5G expertise
will assist with our network
evolution. This latest
agreement provides the
pathway for us to deploy
Ericsson’s next-generation
centralized RAN architecture,
enabled by Fronthaul
Gateway, with the ability to
support future network
enhancements, like the
evolution to Cloud RAN”
Scott Mair, President, AT&T
Network Engineering and
Operations
World first packet fronthaul
commercial deployment
Telstra, Australia

To take advantage of future Cloud RAN packet switched connections needed

to underpin technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning
Challenge (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT) while also enabling the full virtualization of
a network, which is an important ingredient in the evolution of 5G technology.

The Router 6673 was first deployed at three Telstra mobile sites in regional
Victoria using ethernet transport to connect back to the nearest Telstra
Solution baseband aggregation site. The new technology was implemented
successfully with real-time traffic patterns showing promising conversion
gains.

The ability to packetize existing FDD radio connections using the new
fronthaul gateway technology will allow Telstra to leverage its significant
Results
Result investment in 5G radio infrastructure while getting the benefit of the rapid
evolution of RAN Compute technology.

Link to external article

 Key takeaways

●The presented packet fronthaul framework provides an efficient, scalable, flexible,

and future-proof toolbox for any 5G RAN deployment regardless of region or
scenario.
●Packet fronthaul is a solution that is fit for purpose for both DRAN and CRANs
to unify transport.
●The toolbox handles legacy RANs and migration paths which is best done by
conversion from CPRI to eCPRI.
●The selected lower layer split and the design of the eCPRI protocol ensure best
radio performance and features support, make efficient use of the underlying
transport resources and eases OAM operation.
●The fronthaul packet solution, its architecture and protocols are well designed
and ready for deployment of 5G and its evolution. eCPRI is the logical evolution
of CPRI towards a new de-facto industry standard.

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