Intel working on cloud-based radio access network

Work on a cloud-based radio access network (C-RAN) and a separate effort to increase the streaming video capacity of wireless networks were two research efforts highlighted at last week's Intel Developer Forum. The company said it is collaborating with the China Mobile Research Institute in Beijing to design and prototype a full-scale C-RAN, which could reduce operator capex and opex. "Instead of simply moving the proprietary base station hardware to the data center, it is replaced by standard Intel-based servers running a software-defined radio application," Intel said. Meanwhile, Intel, Cisco Systems and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) are sponsoring a joint academic research program on a Video Aware Wireless Network (VAWN), which aims to increase the streaming video capacity of wireless networks while improving the viewing experience by optimizing network performance on an end-to-end basis. See more on Intel's announcements in this release.