PROJECT TITLE

Affordable5G: High-tech and affordable 5G network roll-out to every corner

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Affordable5G aims at creating a 5G network that will deliver a complete and affordable solution covering the needs of private and enterprise networks through technical innovation that span across all parts of 5G network, leveraging cell densification, RU/DU/CU split, hardware acceleration, edge computing and core network virtualization, seamlessly combined with the adoption of open source RAN, MEC and MANO solutions, for cloud-native, micro-service based deployments.

Affordable5G is fully exploitable and open by adopting RAN functions on open interfaces and standard hardware platforms to bring a variety of affordable solutions to the market, capitalizing on core network virtualization for cost-efficient management of RRH/RUs and BBU/DU/CUs that are flexibly deployed and shared among multiple MVNOs. At the same time, the support of innovative verticals is achieved through cloud native orchestrators, managing the various IoT elements and customized devices, as well as the migration of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) across different network nodes.

Affordable5G provides real options for the required network densification by enabling the deployment of low-cost enterprise and private networks and the evolution of certain actors, such as MVNOs. This allows novel, automated, faster-to-deploy and less expensive technology options, and new business models, moving away from traditional telecom equipment providers, thus escaping from vendor lock-in.

The Affordable5G innovative solution is evaluated and validated in two vertical pilots related to emergency communications and smart cities, which have been properly selected as being highly representative in terms of system performance, scalability, mobility patterns, slice types, deployment requirements and impact in the future 5G market.

8BELLS ROLE

8BELLS contributes with its expertise to the description of the planned use case scenarios, to the high-level architecture specification as well as to system level technical specifications. Furthermore, 8BELLS contributes to the technical activities of the project, using a variety of open source tools for cloud and network monitoring, Open Source MANO for NFV management, as well as well-known traffic generators.

Moreover, 8BELLS leads the development and execution of viable plans for the Affordable5G communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities and conducts the technoeconomic and market analysis for the innovative Affordable5G use cases.