New 5G transmission specification helps support demanding 5G applications

The Broadband Forum has published its technical report 5G Transport Architecture and Requirements (TR-521), which recommends architecture and equipment requirements to deliver a transport network suitable for supporting 5G mobile radio access networks (RAN).

The 5G transport network interconnects with the 5G RAN and provides connectivity to the 5G mobile core network.

A variety of technologies can be deployed to support new 5G use cases in 5G transport networks. These include mature technologies such as Ethernet and Ethernet VPNs, as derived from previous Broadband Forum work such as TR-350, TR-224, and TR-221, as well as emerging technologies from Broadband Forum partners such as IEEE 802, ITU-T SG15, and IETF.

“5G cannot operate without the support of a fundamentally sound transport network. These transport networks must be prepared to support the myriad use cases and services that will be made possible using 5G, including higher capacity, enhanced performance and high reliability,” said David Sinicrope, director of the Access and Transport Architecture (ATA) workspace at the Broadband Forum.

The release of TR-521 provides functional reference architecture and equipment requirements for transport networks supporting 5G front-end and back-end

“This will help operators to clarify their expectations of the transport equipment they purchase, and also help transport equipment suppliers to decide what to implement and how to use it,” he added.

The Broadband Forum has also published the Mobile Transport Network Slice Instance Management Interface (MMI) (TR-522) specification to address the transport network slice management interface as the name implies.

5G end-to-end slicing helps realize multiple logically independent networks on a common physical infrastructure platform. In the process of realizing 5G end-to-end slicing, the 3GPP management system needs to be consistent with the corresponding transport network management to ensure the required performance, functionality and connectivity.

TR-522 addresses the interface between 3GPP management systems and transport network managers, helping to provide this alignment. Specifically, the work defines interfaces that support the configuration, assurance, monitoring, and reconfiguration of 5G network slices in 5G networks.

The two specifications, along with accompanying market reports (MR-521.1 and MR-522) explaining the motivation for the work, have been completed by the Mobile Transport and Routing project stream within the Broadband Forum's Access and Transport Architecture (ATA) workspace.

The Mobile Transport and Routing project stream is responsible for the Forum's work on mobile transport and routing architectures, including control, management, and data planes. These architectures leverage new industry technologies and practices while protecting investments in deployed networks.