Joint, Next-generation Platform Enables Centralized, Coordinated, Cloud-based Wireless Networks
At the Mobile World Congress 2015 today, Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) and China Mobile demonstrated jointly a Centralized/Coordinated/Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) platform targeting the next generation of virtualized 5G wireless networks. This approach will dramatically improve the user experience at the edge of cells, achieving much higher channel capacity and spectrum efficiency, reduce the network power consumption, and support flexible and agile network deployments. C-RAN has the potential to create tremendous new business models for network operators, and numerous new applications for the end users of 5G wireless networks.
Visitors to the China Mobile booth (Hall 3 Stand 3A10) at Mobile World Congress can experience the mobile broadband service (voice, data and video calls) delivered by this virtualized platform with live service migration support from server to server. This demonstrates the concept of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) within the C-RAN context.
The strategic collaboration, formally established between Altera and China Mobile Research Institute (CMRI) in 2014, has achieved a significant milestone with this innovative wireless network solution. This solution can provide future 5G networks the benefits of lower power consumption, lower total operating costs and higher scalability than current wireless networks. To accelerate the development and deployment of such next-generation wireless networks, FPGA technologies play a key role in data processing acceleration, component connectivity, and front-haul data transportation in the C-RAN system.
"It has been nearly five years since CMRI first introduced the C-RAN concept to the industry, and there is now wide recognition within the industry that this solution is essential for 5G networks," said Chih-Lin I, Chief Scientist, China Mobile Research Institute. "As a key partner helping to realize the industry vision of the C-RAN architecture-based 5G wireless network, Altera provided advanced technologies and great support to our project as we conducted the research and development together."
"We have great respect for CMRI as an important partner and an innovative industry leader in developing the C-RAN architecture toward 5G wireless networks," said Francis Chow, vice president and general manager of Altera's Communications Business Unit. "Our close collaboration with China Mobile will enable Altera to continuously innovate and offer competitive products and technologies to meet the demands of next-generation wireless networks in terms of power, performance, flexibility and cost; and we are honored to work with CMRI on future architectures."
