A programmable optical network testbed in support of C-RAN: a reliability study

With both mobile network services and related data traffic volume on the rise, reliability of the radio access network is of the essence. A number of radio functional splits are defined by 3GPP to offer increased flexibility of implementation and feasibility of new mobile network services. For example, it is possible to implement certain radio functions in the Cloud, an architectural solution referred to as C-RAN. C-RAN solutions require highly reliable backhaul and fronthaul network designs. This paper describes PROnet, a programmable optical software-defined network testbed, which has been upgraded to offer backhaul and fronthaul transport capabilities in support of C-RAN functionalities with increased reliability. The testbed is upgraded with a specially designed 1 + 1 protection mechanism at the Ethernet layer in order to meet the stringent network round-trip requirements imposed by one of the C-RAN functional split options on the fronthaul.