Nokia Networks leads new 5G RAN and core network research consortium

Nokia Networks, Alcatel-Lucent, Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Telefónica are among 13 telecom industry players that teamed up to develop a 5G mobile network architecture as part of the 5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership (5G PPP) initiative.

The Finnish equipment vendor said it formed the 5G Novel Radio Multiservice adaptive network Architecture (5G NORMA) group with leading industry vendors, operators, IT companies, SMEs and academic institutions to ensure Europe remains at the forefront of the technology's development. The group is scheduled to begin work this month, with the target of delivering proposals for an end-to-end architecture covering 5G RAN and core networks by end-2017.

Nokia Networks will lead the consortium, which also includes NEC, ATOS, Azcom Technology, Nomor Research, Real Wireless, University Kaiserslautern in Germany, Kings College London and University Carlos III Madrid.

In a statement, the equipment vendor explained that 5G NORMA will break "away from the rigid legacy network paradigm" and "adapt the use of the mobile network (RAN and Core Network) resources to the service requirements, the variations of the traffic demands over time and location, and the network topology, which include the available front/backhaul capacity."

Nokia Networks said the group is working on the assumption that 5G networks will "enable unprecedented levels" of network customisation, and that the partners aim to provide "an API-driven architectural openness, fuelling economic growth through over-the-top innovation."

Dr. Werner Mohr, chairman of the 5G PPP Association, said the consortium "aims to ensure economic sustainability of the network operation and open opportunities for new players, while leveraging a future-proof architecture in a cost- and energy-effective way."

Mohr added that 5G "is not only about new radio access technology, network architecture will play an important role as well." That means developing networks that are "programmable, software driven and managed holistically to enable a diverse range of services in a profitable way," he explained.

Nokia Networks stated that the profitability angle will be covered by socio-economic analysts of the benefits of innovations proposed by the consortium.

The 5G PPP is a European Commission-led initiative that aims to deliver the architectures, technologies and standards required for the next generation technology.

For more:
- see Nokia Networks' announcement
- view this dedicated 5G PPP site

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