A beauty or a beast? Behold the new (hybrid) RAN

Has 5G made mobile radio access a hot topic of discussion again? Perhaps. Is the radio access network (RAN) attracting more attention because of architectural changes, especially those required by network virtualization/cloudification and the move to open (non-monolithic) architectures? Maybe.

Whichever the case, mobile RAN has been evolving for a number of years, gradually taking a multifaceted new—effectively “hybrid”—form (including but not limited to “physical” and “virtual” or “cloud” RAN). This has also impacted RAN-related challenges.

In fact, many challenges are similar to those encountered in the past (e.g., spectrum availability). Some have become more complex (e.g., RAN optimization). Some are due to the different nature of supported use cases. And there are also new (e.g., fiber and cloud network infrastructure) challenges following the RAN disaggregation and the adoption of IT concepts. So, if we consider all challenges—and benefits—together, are we now better or worse off with the new RAN?

Key takeaways:

• What the new RAN looks like, and what its description as “hybrid” means
• What the main benefits and key challenges are for the new (hybrid) RAN
• What major network operators have been doing to address these key challenges

Our webinar is based on mobile industry experience and engagements with leading network operators worldwide. Join us for a lively discussion, ask questions in the Q&A session and decide if the new (hybrid) RAN is a “beauty” or a “beast”!