Fujitsu has announced today the release of a 5G vRAN service that combines Fujitsu’s virtualized CCU (vCU) and the virtualized du (vDU) along with NVIDIA’s GPU technology. Fujitsu will be able to offer the new service to its customers including telecom carriers around the world from March 20, 2023. The new technology was developed in the “5G Open RAN Ecosystem” (OREC) project promoted by NTT DOCOMO, which also supported the performance testing and verification of the new technology.
The solution incorporates the NVIDIA GPU processing system “NVIDIA A100X” to the physical layer processing that is performed at the base station. This is how the new system allows the processing by virtualized base stations as well as edge applications using GPU hardware in an all-in-one setup which allows for every function to be implemented within the exact server. This allows telecom companies to create a flexible and open network that is simple to set up with a configuration of the device that can be boosted by a range of features. The solution also offers enhanced Radio unit (RU) capacity and processing power, delivering the highest quality communications environment and can handle data processing that is high-load along with the latest advancements in antenna technology.
With this latest technology, Fujitsu aims to contribute to the worldwide growth of the 5G open network by collaborating with telecom operators , including NTT DOCOMO. Fujitsu will present this technology on its stand during MWC Barcelona 2023, the largest industry show for mobile phones in the world that runs from February 27 to 2 March 2023, in Barcelona, Spain.
Background
The creation of more efficient and robust systems is an ever-growing issue for telecoms companies who operate the networks they own.
Furthermore, with the trend of standardization of base stations that are open, such that of O-RAN, the introduction of vRAN systems which are software-based base stations that don’t require hardware that is dedicated to them – is receiving more attention because they allow for flexible procurement of equipment and reduce costs. 5G, which is a technology that offers ultra-high speed communication, with high capacity and low latency that are based on multi-access edge computation (MEC) is also predicted to help in the development of cutting-edge, new solutions across a variety of sectors.
New features of the solution
Fujitsu has merged its vRAN technology, which was launched on March 20, 2022 with NVIDIA’s GPU processing engine “A100X,” NVIDIA’s “Aerial SDK” for base station processing, as well as an extensive AI framework created by NVIDIA to provide an option that is able to be used for a range of uses from enterprises to carriers.
1. Compute and Base Station functions in parallel via GPU virtualization of resources
By utilizing the virtualization of physical resources used by the NVIDIA GPU processing system “A100X” in the virtualized base stations computing resources can be divided and processed. In turn, the processing of communications for base stations wireless and computing processes using technology such as AI can be carried out simultaneously on one GPU. In this manner, Fujitsu realized a system which allows various applications to be controlled by 5G networks using a less complicated all-in-one device configuration than prior. The system can also support enterprises with new services like AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) control of manufacturing sites as well as video distribution with AR and VR. (AR) or VR (VR) technologies, leveraging 5G’s high-speed, high capacity, and low-latency.
2. GPU to increase processing power to handle wireless communications, and to scale up for the future advancements in antenna technology
Through the use of the capabilities that is the NVIDIA “A100X,” Fujitsu succeeded in enhancing the processing capabilities that the base station system, allowing many customers a top-quality communications environment. Utilizing the “A100X”‘s superior computing power it will need a minor upgrade to software that handles heavy-load data processing , and will also support new antenna technology improvements such as Massive MIMO.
Fujitsu can provide this innovative solution to NTT and other telecommunications companies around the world to help contribute to the development of a the high-quality 5G infrastructure.
Fujitsu’s latest release of a 5G vRAN service that combines its virtualized CCU (vCU) and virtualized du (vDU) with NVIDIA’s GPU technology is a significant step forward for the telecoms industry. This new system allows for virtualized base stations and edge applications to process and implement every function within the same server, creating a flexible and open network that is easy to set up and configure. With the trend of open, standardized base stations like O-RAN, the introduction of vRAN systems is receiving more attention because they allow for flexible procurement of equipment and reduce costs. The new technology developed by Fujitsu and NTT DOCOMO in the “5G Open RAN Ecosystem” (OREC) project promises to be a game-changer, delivering enhanced RU capacity and processing power that can handle high-load data processing and the latest advancements in antenna technology. Fujitsu aims to contribute to the growth of the 5G open network by collaborating with telecom operators around the world, and this latest technology will be presented at MWC Barcelona 2023.
