Flexibility is certainly a key principle to the foundation of 5G RAN design, but it is only one part of the story. The second principle? Fine integration of existing and new radio access technologies. This is according to InterDigital Europe’s Alan Carlton, Vice President, and Alain Mourad, Senior Manager, in the final article of a three-part series on 5G featured in RCR Wireless News’ Reader Forum.

In the article, Alan and Alain discuss the role radio access networks will play in the future of 5G. The two experts explain that a practical and viable approach builds on the principles of flexibility and fine integration. 5G tends to be an evolution of 4G, but the real difference is that 5G will aim at an inherently flexible design that can federate or integrate the multitude of RATS effectively, as stated in the article.

The pair also references two European H2020 5G Public Private Partnership projects, Xhaul and ICIRRUS. InterDigital recently announced the kick-off of Xhaul, and InterDigital Europe’s involvement as a work package leader on the project. Xhaul aims to develop a 5G integrated backhaul and fronthaul transport network to flexibly and dynamically interconnect the 5G radio access and core network functions.

Read the full RCR Wireless News article here.