Understanding MEC C-RAN
C-RAN is often used interchangeably with Centralized-RAN. C-RAN refers to cloud computing-based architecture for RAN and implements Radio Access Technology (RAT). RAN also connects the Core Network (CN) with User Equipment (UE). For 5G, one of the goals is to leverage public cloud infrastructure for RAN, which is already used in the mainstream IT world, and future-proof it for 5G. Where the cloud has too-high latency, an edge cloud is used.
C-RAN represents an architectural evolution over the following areas:
- An all-in-one macro base station for 1G and 2G networks
- A distributed base station for the 3G network
Historically, a RAN’s radio and baseband processing capability has resided in a base station. In C-RAN, we decouple the base station capabilities and processing power into Remote Radio Heads (RRHs), which exist in a distributed fashion at the cell site and the central Baseband Units (BBUs). The connectivity between the BBU and...
