Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA

Virtualized Radio Access Networks (vRAN) allow the disaggregation of the RAN protocol stack into different network units. This disaggregation depends on the selected Functional Split (FS), ranging from Option 1 to Option 8. The possible combination of this virtualization paradigm with different FS c...

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Autores: Larrañaga, A., Villegas, N., Koutlia, K., Diez, L., Agüero, R., Lagen, S.
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Recursos:Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
Repositorio:r-CTTC. Repositorio Institucional Producción Científica del Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
OAI Identifier:oai:cttc.fundanetsuite.com:p8771
Acesso em linha:https://cttc.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=8771
https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018056664?origin=resultslist
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Mobile telecommunication systems
Open source software
Open systems
Throughput
Virtual reality
Virtualization
5g
5g-LENA
Data-rate
Disaggregation
Functional split
Functionals
Network condition
Ns-3
Radio access networks
Software simulation
Software testing
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spelling Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENALarrañaga, A.Villegas, N.Koutlia, K.Diez, L.Agüero, R.Lagen, S.Mobile telecommunication systemsOpen source softwareOpen systemsThroughputVirtual realityVirtualization5g5g-LENAData-rateDisaggregationFunctional splitFunctionalsNetwork conditionNs-3Radio access networksSoftware simulationSoftware testingVirtualized Radio Access Networks (vRAN) allow the disaggregation of the RAN protocol stack into different network units. This disaggregation depends on the selected Functional Split (FS), ranging from Option 1 to Option 8. The possible combination of this virtualization paradigm with different FS configurations could enhance the agility, flexibility, and scalability of 5G and beyond networks. Several studies exploring FSs use open-source platforms such as srsRAN, which provide full-stack 4G and 5G RAN software. However, these platforms have limitations for large-scale network analysis and usually require hardware for realistic testing. In contrast, system-level simulators such as ns-3 5G-LENA accurately model key 5G RAN functionalities and provide a flexible, scalable, and entirely software-based environment to implement, test, and evaluate a wide range of features. Based on the above, in this work we present a software-based model for the ns-3 5G-LENA simulator that allows simulating various FS options. We study and evaluate these FS options, specifically Options 6, 7.3, 7.2, and 7.1. Moreover, we analyze their impact on the end-to-end system performance using eXtended Reality (XR) traffic and under diverse network conditions. Our analysis shows that an appropriate FS selection can improve overall performance, helping the system more effectively handle XR traffic demands across different network conditions. Specifically, when Fronthaul (FH) and bandwidth are not limiting, all FS configurations yield similar throughput and latency, with XR delays mostly below 11 ms and data rates closely matching the offered load. Under FH constraints, lower FSs (e.g., Options 6 or 7.3) are preferable due to large, bursty XR packets. Otherwise, for standardized Open RAN (O-RAN) 7.2 or 7.1 FSs, delays may exceed 50 ms and data rates degrade, significantly affecting XR traffic performance. This work provides the research community with an accessible tool for studying FSs in realistic 5G environments. © 2025 Published by Elsevier B.V.Elsevier2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://cttc.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=8771https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018056664?origin=resultslistSIMULATION MODELLING PRACTICE AND THEORYISSN: 1569190XISSNe: 18781462reponame:r-CTTC. Repositorio Institucional Producción Científica del Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)instname:Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)Inglésinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:cttc.fundanetsuite.com:p87712026-06-17T11:44:47Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA
title Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA
spellingShingle Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA
Larrañaga, A.
Mobile telecommunication systems
Open source software
Open systems
Throughput
Virtual reality
Virtualization
5g
5g-LENA
Data-rate
Disaggregation
Functional split
Functionals
Network condition
Ns-3
Radio access networks
Software simulation
Software testing
title_short Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA
title_full Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA
title_fullStr Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA
title_sort Analysis of different functional split options for XR traffic in 5G-LENA
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Larrañaga, A.
Villegas, N.
Koutlia, K.
Diez, L.
Agüero, R.
Lagen, S.
author Larrañaga, A.
author_facet Larrañaga, A.
Villegas, N.
Koutlia, K.
Diez, L.
Agüero, R.
Lagen, S.
author_role author
author2 Villegas, N.
Koutlia, K.
Diez, L.
Agüero, R.
Lagen, S.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Mobile telecommunication systems
Open source software
Open systems
Throughput
Virtual reality
Virtualization
5g
5g-LENA
Data-rate
Disaggregation
Functional split
Functionals
Network condition
Ns-3
Radio access networks
Software simulation
Software testing
topic Mobile telecommunication systems
Open source software
Open systems
Throughput
Virtual reality
Virtualization
5g
5g-LENA
Data-rate
Disaggregation
Functional split
Functionals
Network condition
Ns-3
Radio access networks
Software simulation
Software testing
description Virtualized Radio Access Networks (vRAN) allow the disaggregation of the RAN protocol stack into different network units. This disaggregation depends on the selected Functional Split (FS), ranging from Option 1 to Option 8. The possible combination of this virtualization paradigm with different FS configurations could enhance the agility, flexibility, and scalability of 5G and beyond networks. Several studies exploring FSs use open-source platforms such as srsRAN, which provide full-stack 4G and 5G RAN software. However, these platforms have limitations for large-scale network analysis and usually require hardware for realistic testing. In contrast, system-level simulators such as ns-3 5G-LENA accurately model key 5G RAN functionalities and provide a flexible, scalable, and entirely software-based environment to implement, test, and evaluate a wide range of features. Based on the above, in this work we present a software-based model for the ns-3 5G-LENA simulator that allows simulating various FS options. We study and evaluate these FS options, specifically Options 6, 7.3, 7.2, and 7.1. Moreover, we analyze their impact on the end-to-end system performance using eXtended Reality (XR) traffic and under diverse network conditions. Our analysis shows that an appropriate FS selection can improve overall performance, helping the system more effectively handle XR traffic demands across different network conditions. Specifically, when Fronthaul (FH) and bandwidth are not limiting, all FS configurations yield similar throughput and latency, with XR delays mostly below 11 ms and data rates closely matching the offered load. Under FH constraints, lower FSs (e.g., Options 6 or 7.3) are preferable due to large, bursty XR packets. Otherwise, for standardized Open RAN (O-RAN) 7.2 or 7.1 FSs, delays may exceed 50 ms and data rates degrade, significantly affecting XR traffic performance. This work provides the research community with an accessible tool for studying FSs in realistic 5G environments. © 2025 Published by Elsevier B.V.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://cttc.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=8771
https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018056664?origin=resultslist
url https://cttc.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=8771
https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018056664?origin=resultslist
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv SIMULATION MODELLING PRACTICE AND THEORY
ISSN: 1569190X
ISSNe: 18781462
reponame:r-CTTC. Repositorio Institucional Producción Científica del Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
instname:Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
instname_str Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
reponame_str r-CTTC. Repositorio Institucional Producción Científica del Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
collection r-CTTC. Repositorio Institucional Producción Científica del Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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