Abstract:
The coexistence of massive Internet of Things (IoT)
network and modern technologies (e.g., high speed gaming and
self driving vehicles) requires a versatile network which can
provide support to all such applications. Since the Quality of
Service (QoS) requirement of each application is different from
one another, the existing Radio Access Network(RAN) is unable
to support such diverse applications. Consequently, Open Radio
Access Network(O-RAN) is being considered as the most viable
solution for next generation RAN. In this paper, we present
the evolution of RAN along with the possible architecture and
features of the most promising next generation RAN (i.e., ORAN). This work mainly discusses architectural and functional
advancement of the RAN in each generation. In addition, we discuss various challenges associated with O-RAN implementation
and possible opportunities created with the advent by O-RAN.
