5G-Era and Beyond: Small Cell Industry Perspectives

Prabhakar Chitrapu, PhD Chair - Small Cell Forum BWAC Keynote Address, Mon-09-Nov-2020 Outline

• Evolution to Wireless Generations • 5G-Era and Small Cells • Small Cells and Small Cell Networks - Disaggregated, virtualized, open RAN/SCNs • Edge Computing & Small Cells • Evolving Mobile Ecosystem - Neutral Host Networks • 5G-Era Status & Visions of 6G • Small Cell Forum

2 Progression of Wireless Generational Eras

N-Gen Era (N+1)-Gen Era

(N+1)G-Technologies = NG-Technologies Enhanced NG-Tech + New-Tech

NG-Deployments (N+1)G- NG-Deployments Deployments

NG- Services (N+1)G- NG-Services Services

3 Evolution to 5G

5G-Standards Enabling Technologies

Radio Network: Disaggregated Architectures • 3GPP-NR • New Spectra (Licensed, Unlicensed, Virtualization Shared/Partially-Licensed/Dedicated) • Multi-Radio-Access Integration Edge Computing

Network Slicing

Core Network: 5GPP-5GC Energy Efficiency

Intelligence (ML/AI)

Small Area, High Data Rates eMBB 5G-NR 5G-NGC

High Data Rates, Low Latency

Small Area, High Data Rates mmw Small Premise/Network URLLC Cells -Edge based Small Area, Low Latency, Edge Multi-Connectivity Small Remote Units Computing

Power -Down/Off Capability splitRAN Private Area

High Density Energy mIOT Efficiency

Small Cell Small Cell (SC) Network (SCN)

A network of small cells A base station that radiates 3GPP defined RF signal with (integrated or small power & small size, generally with small coverage. disaggregated)

RF frequency: 3GPP defined RF signal: Licensed (Sub-6, mmw), Base Stations: 3G, 4G, 5G, Integrated with Shared (CBRS) or Unlicensed Integrated or Disaggregated Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi calling) etc. (“Wi-Fi frequencies”)

• Residential • Indoor enterprise • Private industrial • Campus • Outdoor dense urban • Outdoor rural

10 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 SCN Characteristics & SCF Focus

Small Power (often Small Small Size Coverage)

Scalable (Numbers & Low cost Light touch Features)

$ $ $

11 Distributed & Centralized/Disaggregated Small Cell Network Architectures

Distributed SCN Architecture

N2/N3 Core Network gNBgNB-DU

Centralized/Disaggregated SCN Architecture

N2/N3 Core Network Centralized Unit Radio UnitRadio Unit

All-In-One gNB

Centralized Unit Radio Unit Radio Unit

• Identified by 3GPP • Standardization: • High Layer Split: Option-2: 3GPP • Low Layer Split: Option-6: SCF • Low Layer Split: Option-7.2x: O-RAN

3GPP 3GPP gNB-CU gNB-DU (PDCP) Option-2 (HLS) gNB-DU F1

S-CU 3GPP S-DU SCF S-RU SCF (PDCP) MAC & RLC PHY & RF Option-2 (HLS) Option-6 (LLS) F1 5G-nFAPI

3GPP O-DU O-CU O-RAN O-RU (Hi-PHY, MAC, O-RAN (PDCP) (Low-LHY & RF) Option-2 (HLS) RLC) Option-7.2x (LLS) F1 Open-FH

Siting, Best Practices, Lobbying with Regulators

[SCF 190, 195] Small Cell Siting Challenges (with 5G-Americas) [SCF 183] Global Best Practices for Local Councils [SCF 186] Deployment Guidelines for Latin America (with GSMA) [SCF 012] Small Cell Installation Classes with GSMA

15 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 Deployment Challenges

• Time & Cost to deploy a small cell. • Site and equipment approvals; • Fees negotiations with the city or other landlord; • Deployment, provisioning and maintenance • Appropriate backhaul and power • Conformance to the city’s aesthetic and environmental regulations.

16 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 SCF & GSMA work on Siting

Simplified EU installation rules and EC adopted implementation regulation for the Small Area Wireless Access Point light deployment regime

SCF012 Small Cell Installation Classes with GSMA

17 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 SCF & 5GA Recommendations for rules to address siting challenges

18 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 Edge computing and small cell networks

Editors

Key contributors Benefits of edge computing

Edge Computing & Storage Resources

Low Latency Local Applications Compute offload Edge Analytics Others Applications

Improve Network Local Connectivity to Cheaper AR/VR Transport Cost AR/VR Monitoring/ Enterprise Headsets Reduction Diagnosis

Improve E2E Local Video Content Cheaper Applications (ex. Autonomous Vehicle Increased Network (in Stadiums/ Autonomous Video Adaptation Guidance Resiliency Museums…) Vehicles based on Radio Conditions)

Locally Replicated Gaming Content (CDN)

Industry segment Industry examples Edge computing application

• Factory floor • Edge network for internal communications, automation, IoT

Automation & Industry 4.0 • Logistics and warehousing • Edge applications: video, logistics, warehousing, automation, etc. • Mining, agriculture, remote oil/gas • Extend wireless IoT networks to remote/temporary locations and removing black spots in coverage Worksite industries • Edge applications: video, local communications, automation, alarms • Electricity, power plants • Critical communications, High availability

Mission critical services • Edge computing for local communications, automation, alarms

• Airports, stadiums, hospitals, ports • Private network for employees. Data privacy & public network for visitors Enterprise/venue services • Edge computing for local communications, videos, local applications, automation • Patrol, first responders • Private network for emergency situations. Portable communications Public safety • Edge computing for communications, video, body camera feeds, drone video feeds

22 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 EC framework

E2E Management/Orchestration

Edge Computing Solution Edge Management/ Orchestration

Edge Edge Edge Applications MNO-Applications OTT-Applications Edge-Assisted Device Applications EC Platform Services Internet/ Access Network MNO Mobility Core Public Device Edge Network Functions (LTE/5G/WiFi/Wired) + LBO Network (LTE/5G) Cloud MNO/Enterprise WiFi Core Edge Infrastructure Network

Edge Management/ • Managed services Orchestration • Offering: Deployment, operational management

Edge Applications • SaaS – Software as a service • Offering: Applications

EC Platform • PaaS – Platform as a service Services • Offering: Radio, Network & Application APIs; Video, Security, AI/ML Analytics Edge Network Functions + LBO • NaaS – Network as a service • Offering: Distributed core, centralized RAN & local Edge Infrastructure breakout functions; network APIs • IaaS – Infrastructure as a service • Offering: COTS hardware + virtualization software environment (VMs/containers)

E2E Management / Orchestration

Edge Management/ Orchestration

Edge-Assisted Device Applications Edge-Applications Private cellular network

Internet/ Access Network Public Cloud Device Edge Network Functions Enterprise Network (LTE/5G)

Edge Infrastructure E2E Management / Orchestration

Edge Management/ Orchestration

Edge-Assisted Device Applications Edge-Applications Applications

Internet/ MNO edge network Device Access Network (LTE/5G) Edge Network Functions MNO Core Public Cloud

Edge Infrastructure

MNO Network

25 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 Edge Network

Enterprise cloud /Internet

Local breakout

Small cell network Internet

Edge Network Functions: CU of Split-RAN, UPF of Distributed-Core, Local Breakout….

Examples – UE & Edge Applications • LBO to enterprise Traffic flow-based application types • AR/VR • Autonomous Vehicle Assist • Presence & Tracking • Robotic Control • Security

Examples – Pass Through Applications • Video Compression/Optimization • Security • Content Caching • IOT Gateways

Examples – Edge & Network Applications • Network Analytics & Management 27 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 EC & SCN Integration Options (1/2)

Application #1

RFE

Application Instance #1 Application Transport / LTE/5G Small Cell / RU #2 LTE EPC / SC LBO Modem Backbone 4G SGW (DU+CU) #1 5GC / MEC 5G UPF VRAN BBU

Application Instance #2 RFE

Small Cell / RU #2

EC platform integrating Disaggregated SCNs

28 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 EC & SCN Integration Options (2/2)

Application Instance SC LBO Application LTE/5G #1 4G SGW #1 Modem RFE / MEC (DU+CU) 5G UPF

Transport / Small Cell #1 Application LTE EPC / #2 Backbone 5GC

Application Instance SC LBO LTE/5G #1 4G SGW Modem RFE / MEC (DU+CU) Application 5G UPF Instance #2

Small Cell #2

SC integrating lightweight EC

29 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 EC – Industry Forum Landscape (ETSI-MEC view)

30 © Small Cell Forum Ltd 2020 Evolving mobile ecosystem

Future is B2B & B2C B2C Legacy Technology OEMs,Tower & Public & Private Cloud Providers Technology OEMs, Tower & Providers Transport Providers Providers Transport Providers Network NH Providers, Private Network MNO Builders Providers, System Integrators

Service Service MNO/MVNO MNO/MVNO Private Network Operators (PNOs) Providers Providers

Industry, enterprise, smart cities Consumers Consumers Subscribers Subscribers Guests, Employees

Internet of Things (IOT)

New players, new business relationships & new opportunities

Small Cell Deployers

• MNO • Heavy MVNO • Neutral Host • Private Operator • Enterprise Direct

32 Neutral Hosts’ Technology Requirements

MNO Synergies in common shared platform NH MNO Multi operator connectivity

MNO NH Venues & public spaces

• Venues are willing to fund infrastructure deployment provided it is multi-operator. Neutral hosts are brokering these arrangements. • Historically, MNOs selected RAN equipment and Neutral hosts use RAN agnostic DAS, or separate MNO-selected small cells. • CBRS and JOTS change this and put RAN ownership within the control of neutral hosts.

Source: JOTS NHIB

SCF NH technology requirements elaborates Focus of JOTS NHIB is on on use cases, architectures and requirements common security architecture for the NH and retail domains for multiple MNOs connecting with a neutral host

34 5G-Era Technologies: Current Status Drivers Current Status eMBB ✅✅✅ mid-band vs. mmw spectrum: coverage vs. speed

UR-LLC ✅ ✅ LLC (with Edge Computing) ✅ UR mIOT ✅✅

Network Densification ✅✅

Private Cellular Networks ✅ Dedicated/Shared vs. MNO spectrum, PNO-MNO Interpoertability

Core Technologies Current Status 3GPP 5G-NR ✅✅✅

3GPP 5G-NGC ✅✅✅ SA deployments lagging

Auxiliary Technologies Current Status Virtualized Networks ✅✅ Core ✅ RAN ✅ ✅ Management/IT

Open Networks ✅✅ Core ✅ RAN ✅✅ Management/IT

Edge Computing ✅✅ Enterprise Environments ✅ MNO/MSO Networks

Network Slicing ✅

Shared Spectrum ✅ CBRS in US

Shared Infrastructure ✅ Neutral Host players 6G-Era: Drivers

Global Advanced Coverage & Networks & Social Consciousness Demand-Driven New Business Sustainability & Responsibility Capacity Models

36 6G-Era Requirements: Advanced Network Solutions & New Business Models

Ecosystem Networks Technologies Business Models

• Open, Agile, Multi-Player • Flexible, Fully Dynamic • AI/ML for Network Analytics • Enabling a proliferation of Ecosystem leading to Low Spectrum Marketplace & & Optimization traditional & new Cost, Flexible, Disruptive, Management (advanced deployers/operators. Innovative Networks sharing/leasing solutions) • Convergence of Control & • Seamless Multi-Access Communications (MNO, Heavy MVNOs, (translating and building on Network Integration Neutral Hosts, Private the success of IT/DC • Advanced Automation to • Quantum Network Operators, ecosystem) realize Autonomous Computing/Communication Enterprises) Networks • Flexible Infrastructure • Flexible Service Contracts Sharing (individual & wholesale) • Fully Distributed, Multi- • User Defined Networks Party-Hosted Computing & Storage • Satellite/Air- borne/Vehicular Networks

37 6+1 Dimensions of 6G-Networks

Distributed Security, Open, Multi- Privacy, Trust Player Ecosystem

New Service Spectrum Agility, Providers & Business Multi-RAT Models Integration

6G- Networks

Distributed Resources Automation & AI & Flexible Architecture s

Optimized & Secure Infrastructur e Sharing

38 6G-Enhanced Performance 6G-Key Open Problems 6G-Spectrum Range 6G-Key Open Research Topics Standardization Path to 6G

43 Small Cell Forum

• Members: Operators, OEMs, infrastructure vendors, system integrators • Work program driven by Operators, Board & Steering Group

Board Leadership

Enabling Disruption & Fostering Open-ness in Small Fostering US Competitiveness Innovation in RAN Cell Solutions of Silicon Vendors • Unlike Macro-Cellular • Open-RAN Solutions • FAPI enables mix&match of Networks, SCNs have always • Iuh à 3GPP Silicon Vendors and SW been more open to new & • TR-196 à BBF vendors disruptive players. • FAPI (3G, 4G, 5G) à SC • Driving towards Open-Silicon • SCF has enabled such HW & SW Vendors, OAI, O- supporting various Split- players by developing open- RAN.. Options for Disaggregated SCN Solutions SCN architectures • Split-Option-6 5G-nFAPI • Due to the fundamental Interface à OAI, O-RAN, … aspects of SCs, SC- ecosystem has the potential to be as vibrant as Wi-Fi ecosystem, while being an integral part of the macro- mobile-networks!

Engaging Collaborative Engaging Regulators Enterprises Approach • US, UK, EU • 5G-Era is a lot • 3GPP, BBF, O-RAN, • Lobby for Ease of about enabling OAI, ETSI-MEC, Deployment of various Verticals WBA, MEF, 5GA,… Small Cells • EAC, engagement with Healthcare, Hospitality, Property Management, Transportation…

Trusted Supplier of Information

• 100s White Papers with over 16,000 downloads (2019) and numerous Press Coverages • Specifications/Standards • Best Practices for Industry • Information to Regulators

SCF would be happy to collaborate in areas of mutual interest !

https://www.smallcellforum.org/

1. SCF Overview, Prabhakar, Chair SCF To see the draft EU regulation for Small Cell light deployment regime our joint industry response, visit “Light deployment regime for small-area wireless access points”, European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1981-Light-deployment-regime-for-small-area-wireless-access-points 2. Planning, management, automation: Sue Monahan, CEO SCF “Precision planning for 5G Era Small Cells with AI/ML”, SCF230, Oct 2019, https://www.smallcellforum.org/precision-planning-and-small-cells/ “Small Cell SON and Orchestration from 4G to 5G”, SCF233, Feb 2020 https://www.smallcellforum.org/small-cell-son-and-orchestration-from-4g-to-5g 3. Private networks, neutral host & verticals engagement, Keyur Brambhatt, Extenet “Private Cellular Networks with Small Cells”, SCF235, April 2020, https://www.smallcellforum.org/private-networks/ Contact [email protected] to get involved in follow-up projects • Ports/logistics vertical requirements and solutions profile [243], Private Network Management [240] 4. 5G FAPI: Small cell component APIs, Clare Somerville, Intel “5G FAPI Suite: Data, Control, Front End, Network Monitor mode APIs”, March 2020 https://www.smallcellforum.org/5g-phy-api-release/ Contact [email protected] to get involved in ongoing FAPI updates 5. 5G small cell products: Vicky Messer, Picocom Contact [email protected] to get involved the product definition work item [238] due to complete in June 6. Market survey of products and architectures Caroline Gabriel, SCF Contact [email protected] to take part in the 5G small cell products and architectures survey, described here: https://www.smallcellforum.org/blog/scf-launches-initiative-to-revise-the-small-cell-product-definition 7. 5G nFAPI: Split option 6, Ravi Sinha, Reliance Jio Contact [email protected] to get involved the 5G nFAPI split option 6 and associated Netconf/yang management work item