5G Network Function Optimization in Optical Access Systems
Summary
The convergence of fifth‐generation (5G) radio access networks with high‐capacity optical infrastructures has become a cornerstone for delivering ultra‐reliable, low‐latency communications at scale. In modern architectures, centralised or cloud radio access network (C-RAN) paradigms virtualise baseband processing functions and distribute them across central and edge data centres. Optical access systems—ranging from time‐ and wavelength‐division multiplexed passive optical networks (TWDM-PONs) to wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical networks (WDM-PONs)—serve as the fronthaul and midhaul transport layers, carrying digitised radio signals between remote radio heads and processing units. Optimisation of network functions in this domain encompasses strategic placement of distributed units (DUs) and central units (CUs), dynamic assignment of wavelength channels, adaptive traffic grooming, and the orchestration of virtual network functions to satisfy stringent criteria for latency, throughput, energy efficiency and cost. Mathematical programming models, including mixed‐integer linear programming (MILP), and specialised heuristics or metaheuristics such as genetic algorithms, have been developed to allocate resources, reconfigure optical paths and co-optimise processing and transport layers. These advances support emerging services—from augmented reality to autonomous vehicles—by ensuring optical access systems can flexibly scale and meet heterogeneous demands in diverse deployment scenarios.
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5G Network Function Optimization in Optical Access Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in 5g network function optimization in optical access systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Fronthaul: The optical transport segment that carries digitised radio signals between remote radio heads and baseband processing units.
Passive Optical Network (PON): A point‐to‐multipoint fibre access technology that uses passive splitters to serve multiple endpoints from a single fibre.
Network Function Virtualization (NFV): The abstraction and software‐based implementation of network functions to run on general-purpose processors.
Distributed Unit (DU): A functional split in 5G RAN that handles real-time baseband processing closer to the antenna site.
Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP): An optimisation technique that models decision problems with both integer and continuous variables under linear constraints.
References
- Cost-Aware DU Placement and Flow Routing in 5G Packet xHaul Networks. IEEE Access (2023).
- Specialized Genetic Operators for the Planning of Passive Optical Networks. Computers (2024).
- Planning of Optical Connections in 5G Packet-Optical xHaul Access Network. Applied Sciences (2022).
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