NEC develops NFV C-RAN solution

–
Enabled by software-based wireless base station functions –

Tokyo, Japan, August 16,
2016 – NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) today
announced the development of a “Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)
Cloud-Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Solution” built on Intel processors and
enabled by software-based wireless base station functions.

Wireless base station
functions rely on a Central Unit (CU) that processes data and Distributed Units
(DU) that send and receive radio waves. NFV C-RAN solution is enabled by
software on Intel® Architecture that functions as the CU. The CU controls
multiple DU on a centralized basis, making it possible to flexibly control
radio wave output from the DU in line with data volumes.

By transferring selected
data processing functions from the CU to DU, the NFV C-RAN solution also
enables tolerance levels for communications delays between CU and DU to be
relaxed. This enables Ethernet to be used as the interface between the CU and
DU instead of the conventional Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI). As a
result, the volume of data exchanged between the CU and DU can be reduced to less
than one tenth, compared to existing C-RAN architecture. By maintaining the
same level of performance, even if connecting the CU and DU via lower capacity
networks, this will enable communications carriers to develop the high
performance networks they need for 5G whilst keeping capital investment to a
minimum.

“NEC launched a range of
innovative SDN/NFV solutions on the market ahead of our competitors,” said
Nozomu Watanabe, General Manager, Mobile Radio Access Network Division, NEC
Corporation. “Looking forward, NEC will capitalize on its NFV C-RAN solutions
and Management and Orchestration solutions in order to contribute to the highly
efficient facility operations that are necessary for 5G.”

“Intel is collaborating
with global operators and telecom equipment manufacturers to develop more
intelligent and agile networks that lay a foundation for 5G. Innovations in
areas like cloud RAN offer increased flexibility to support a breadth of new
use cases and will help accelerate progress toward 5G,” said Sandra Rivera,
vice president and general manager of Intel’s Network Platforms Group.

NEC and Intel will be
running dynamic demonstrations and showcasing the effectiveness of this NFV
C-RAN solution at the Intel Developer Forum 2016 (IDF 2016) in San Francisco
from August 16 to 18.