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Samsung & TELUS Pioneer Canada’s 1st 5G Virtualized RAN
Mobile network operators are currently witnessing the tangible benefits of 5G technology, ushering in a new era of innovative services tailored for both consumers and enterprises alike. However, amidst this wave of progress, operators are confronted with the formidable task of expanding 5G networks, navigating the complexities of deploying infrastructure in both new sites and existing locations already saturated with legacy network equipment. The 5G radio access network (RAN) assumes a pivotal role in driving forward coverage and capacity enhancements, necessitating performance improvements within increasingly constrained spatial confines.
Samsung & TELUS Pioneer Canada’s 1st 5G Virtualized RAN
TELUS sets sights on turbocharging its 5G infrastructure through Samsung’s vRAN 3.0 and Open RAN innovations, elevating performance, energy conservation, and paving the way for seamless future upgrades.
TELUS and Samsung Electronics have unveiled a groundbreaking initiative, heralding the inception of Canada’s premier commercial virtualized and open radio access network (RAN). This intelligent, next-gen technology promises elevated performance, flexibility, energy efficiency, and automation, marking a significant expansion of their collaboration from greenfield to brownfield deployments.
Since TELUS’ selection of Samsung as its 5G network vendor in June 2020, this innovative infrastructure deployment epitomizes collaborative synergy, uniting manufacturers and providers to forge a modular, cutting-edge wireless network. Representing one of the earliest truly virtualized Open RAN deployments within a complex brownfield network setting.
With an Open RAN approach, TELUS gains the ability to cherry-pick components from various manufacturers to suit its requirements, while a virtualized radio access network (vRAN) substitutes hardware with software. This affords TELUS expedited access to the latest technologies as they emerge, enhancing customer experiences, fostering network innovation, and broadening opportunities for equipment vendors.
Nazim Benhadid, TELUS’ Chief Technology Officer, expressed enthusiasm, hailing this milestone as a pivotal moment for both TELUS and the industry at large, unlocking novel dimensions of mobile experiences in Canada. Junehee Lee, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the transformative potential of continuous innovation in mobile communications.
Extensive testing of both vRAN and Open RAN rollout in select Canadian markets yielded promising results, validating the telco-grade performance and reliability of multi-vendor Open RAN technology, bolstered by Samsung’s vRAN solutions. Commercial deployment is slated to commence in the first half of the year, with a large-scale network rollout anticipated by mid-2024.
In this expanded collaboration, Samsung pledges to furnish its versatile vRAN software and established Open RAN compliant solutions, including its 64T64R Massive MIMO radios, alongside support for third-party radio integration. Samsung’s solutions, including its latest vRAN 3.0 for 4G and 5G, promise enhanced capabilities for energy conservation, optimized performance, and intelligent automation.
TELUS’ pioneering approach to embrace a multi-vendor Open RAN brownfield deployment leverages additional ecosystem collaborations. Wind River will provide cloud infrastructure, drawing on its expertise in real-time operating systems and cloud-native, distributed edge platforms. Hewlett Packard Enterprise will deliver HPE ProLiant DL110 Gen11 servers, optimized for Open RAN workload, providing the foundation for a Distributed Unit (DU).
Stefan Pongratz, Vice President and Analyst at the Dell’Oro Group, underscores the significance of vRAN and Open RAN in network transformation, commending Samsung’s leadership in demonstrating the efficacy of virtualized Open RAN in commercial 5G networks. Introducing vRAN and Open RAN into the Canadian market with TELUS marks a formidable stride in reshaping the RAN landscape for sustained advantage.
Samsung’s next-level vRAN capabilities include the following:
Performance Optimization
- 200MHz 3 Cell Support
Following a software enhancement, Samsung’s vRAN will boast the capability to accommodate a 3 Cell configuration, delivering support for 200MHz of bandwidth through its 64T64R Massive MIMO radios. This upgrade represents a significant leap, offering over triple the radio bandwidth support compared to its preceding generation software, effectively catering to an operator’s entire mid-band 5G spectrum holdings.
- Modem Algorithm Optimization
Samsung is adopting a novel modem algorithm optimization strategy as part of its development trajectory. Diverging from the conventional hardware-centric approach, this optimization method ensures operators receive software precisely tailored to their requirements, featuring only the necessary features and configurations. This streamlined approach facilitates an optimized and efficient utilization of COTS servers, empowering operators with enhanced flexibility and performance.
Power Savings
- CPU Core Sleep Mode
Embedded within Samsung’s vRAN software, this functionality curtails power consumption by seamlessly transitioning the CPU into a “sleep mode,” effectively deactivating unused CPU cores during intervals of minimal data traffic. As capacity demands surge, the CPU cores seamlessly reawaken from their dormant state, ensuring optimal performance without unnecessary energy expenditure.
- Adaptive Core Allocation
Samsung’s vRAN software incorporates a distinctive feature that dynamically allocates CPU Cores during cell setup, correlating the number of active cells with the assigned cores. Any unallocated or dormant CPU Cores are transitioned into an idle mode, effectively minimizing power consumption. As capacity demands escalate, these dormant cores seamlessly activate to meet the increased workload, ensuring optimal resource utilization and energy efficiency.
- Energy Saving Feature Orchestrator (ESFO)
ESFO stands out as a comprehensive orchestration tool designed to streamline energy-saving functionalities within a single platform, enhancing efficiency without disrupting services. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms, ESFO conducts real-time analysis of hourly traffic patterns, fine-tuning the operating parameters of each energy-saving feature according to sector and time zone specifications. Continuously evolving, the tool dynamically adjusts the multi-level energy-saving operations, encompassing functions like cell activation/deactivation and transmission path optimization, to align with shifting traffic dynamics and past performance metrics.
With these advanced functionalities, Samsung’s vRAN emerges as a pivotal tool for facilitating smarter management and operation of expansive virtualized networks, catering to the evolving demands of next-generation connectivity. Samsung’s strategic roadmap includes the global deployment of its enhanced vRAN capabilities, commencing with a rollout across North America in the initial half of 2023.
Renowned for its pioneering efforts in delivering end-to-end 5G solutions encompassing chipsets, radios, and core infrastructure, Samsung remains at the forefront of driving industry progress in 5G network evolution. Through relentless research and development initiatives, Samsung continues to push the boundaries, offering a market-leading product portfolio spanning from virtualized RAN and Core solutions to innovative private network offerings and AI-driven automation tools. Currently, the company extends its network solutions to mobile operators worldwide, enabling connectivity for millions of users across diverse geographies.
Why deploy Samsung 5G RAN?
Samsung spearheads advancements in 5G RAN through a strategic blend of industry-leading designs and invaluable insights gleaned from pioneering deployment experiences. Today, Samsung’s 5G RAN stands at the forefront, delivering unparalleled performance and capacity enhancements to elevate user experiences. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as massive MIMO and harnessing the potential of mmWave spectrum, Samsung’s 5G RAN portfolio fulfills the promise of a seamless 5G experience tailored to meet the dynamic demands of mobile operators while expediting time-to-market initiatives.
In our relentless pursuit of product and technological excellence, Samsung channels substantial investments into research and development, with a particular focus on fundamental components like chipsets. This encompasses the development of mmWave RFICs to seamlessly integrate the RF chain alongside a myriad of antenna elements and 5G modems, among other innovations. Additionally, Samsung leads the charge in 5G breakthroughs, embracing not only traditional RAN but also the latest ORAN/vRAN technologies. Notably, Samsung stands as the sole major network vendor to execute vRAN commercial deployments with Tier One operators across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Moreover, Samsung remains committed to fostering a greener and more sustainable future by crafting eco-friendly RAN solutions designed to intelligently conserve energy. By optimizing operational costs and curbing carbon emissions, Samsung’s RAN solutions exemplify our dedication to environmental stewardship.
As steadfast partners with major operators, Samsung continues to shape the trajectory of 5G evolution, delivering advanced capabilities and unparalleled performance to our esteemed customers. Together, we forge ahead, driving innovation and redefining the possibilities of next-generation connectivity.
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