SKT researchers conducting research related to 5G virtualized base stations.

Samsung, Ericsson, Nokia, and others present vRAN technology research case studies

SK Telecom (CEO Yoo Young-sang) is leading the development of 5G equipment and structural evolution through collaboration with major domestic and international telecommunications equipment manufacturers.

SKT announced on the 21st that it plans to showcase the development and demonstration of 5G wireless network-based cloud vRAN together with global equipment manufacturers Samsung Electronics, Ericsson, and Nokia, under the keyword '5G & Beyond' at MWC22.

A virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) is a technology that incorporates various network functions of a Radio Access Network (RAN) into software.

SKT stated that this technology allows various network functions to be installed on general-purpose servers just like installing software on a computer, and offers the advantage of enhanced equipment compatibility as common software can be installed, removed, and upgraded on commercially available servers (general-purpose servers).

Through this, mobile carriers and equipment manufacturers are expected to be able to handle 5G base station management tasks—which require deploying more base station equipment than 4G networks—on a large scale and quickly.

■ Advancing into the Global Market with Open RANFire trend

Efforts to transition wireless access network (RAN) equipment to an open architecture are accelerating. To efficiently implement 5G services, telecommunications companies and equipment manufacturers are leading the evolution toward an open ecosystem.

SKT participated in the O-RAN Alliance, a global alliance related to open base stations, and the 5G Forum Fronthaul Working Group, and incorporated the Korea Information and Communications Technology Association (TTA) standard as an O-RAN-based open 5G base station standard.

In addition, through collaboration with small but strong domestic companies in the telecommunications equipment sector such as HFR, we conducted demonstrations for interoperability between RAN and O-RAN, including interoperability testing and system status management testing in the O-RAN fronthaul.

Park Jong-kwan, Head of Infrastructure Technology at SKT, stated, "We plan to lead technologies related to an open ecosystem in which various telecommunications equipment manufacturers can participate, and also contribute to expanding business areas in which domestic small and medium-sized equipment companies can participate." He added, "Through this MWC, we plan to showcase SKT's advanced technological capabilities that lead 5G network innovation together with various partners."