Fujitsu Limited
Fujitsu Launches 5G Virtual Base Station Solution Contributing to Building Flexible Open Networks
NVIDIA GPU improves processing power, allowing base station functions and edge applications to be operated on the same server
For customers such as telecommunications carriers, we will provide a 5G virtual base station solution that combines our wireless base station software (vCU, vDU) and NVIDIA (Note 1) (hereafter, NVIDIA) GPU technology. It will be available globally from March 2023. The development of this solution will be jointly created within the framework of the “5G Open RAN Ecosystem” (Note 3) (hereafter, OREC) promoted by NTT Docomo, Inc. (Note 2) (Hereinafter, NTT DoCoMo). cooperated in the performance verification and evaluation of this solution.
This solution uses NVIDIA’s “NVIDIA A100X” (Note 4) (hereafter, “A100X”) as the GPU responsible for processing the physical layer in the base station. It has an all-in-one configuration that enables parallel processing of virtualized base stations and edge
applications. In addition, the number of radio units (RUs) that can be accommodated and the processing capacity have been increased to realize a high-quality communication environment, and the software can be upgraded flexibly and easily to cope with the increase in computational load due to future improvements in antenna technology. can accommodate.
By providing this solution, we will cooperate with telecommunications carriers such as NTT Docomo and contribute to the global development of open 5G networks. This solution will be exhibited at MWC Barcelona 2023, the world’s largest mobile-related exhibition, to be held in Barcelona, Spain from February 27 (Monday) to March 2 (Thursday), 2023.
[Background]
As the next-generation communication standard 5G spreads, the applications of wireless communication are diversifying, and the number and types of connected terminals are increasing.
Telecommunications carriers and those who own their own networks have an urgent need to build systems that are more powerful and resilient than ever before. In addition, against the background of the global trend toward open radio base station specifications such as O-RAN (Note 5), the system is composed of software that does not use dedicated hardware and enables flexible equipment procurement and reduced construction costs. The introduction of virtualized base stations is progressing worldwide. In addition, by utilizing multi-access edge computing (MEC), the creation of new services that take advantage of the ultra-high speed, large capacity, and low latency features of 5G is also expected.
[Features of this virtualized base station solution]
The solution that we will start providing is a virtualization base station (Note 6) that we started providing in March 2022, and NVIDIA’s GPU processing engine “A100X” and acceleration that executes base station processing ” By combining the NVIDIA Aerial SDK (Note 7) (hereinafter referred to as the “Aerial SDK”) and a comprehensive AI framework, it can be deployed in a wide range of use cases from telecommunications carriers to enterprise customers.
[Image 1
Figure: Image of this virtualized base station solution
1. Parallelization of base station functions and computing functions by GPU resource virtualization function
By virtualizing the hardware resources of NVIDIA’s GPU processing engine “A100X” in the virtualization base station, it is possible to distribute the processing resources. As a result, communication processing of wireless base stations and computing processing using AI can be performed in parallel on the same GPU. can. Enterprise customers can also provide new services that take advantage of the ultra-high-speed, high-capacity, low-latency communication of 5G, such as control of AGVs (automated guided vehicles) at manufacturing sites and video distribution using AR and VR technology. contribute. 2. Increased wireless communication processing capacity and
scalability for advanced antenna technology by adopting GPU
Utilizing the computing performance of “A100X”, it is possible to improve the processing power of base stations and provide a
high-quality communication environment to many users. In addition, it is possible to easily handle high-load data processing associated with future improvements in antenna technology, such as Massive MIMO (Note 9), simply by upgrading the software.
We provide 5G virtual base station solutions globally to
telecommunications carriers such as NTT DoCoMo, expanding high-quality 5G network infrastructure, and contributing to the comfortable communication and business development of end-user customers. increase.
[Comment from Mr. Sadayuki Abeta, OREC Evangelist, NTT Docomo Global Business Department]
In order to build highly flexible, scalable and intelligent networks, mobile operators are interested in open RAN and vRAN, and are considering their introduction. DOCOMO will transform the industry together with outstanding OREC partners such as Fujitsu and NVIDIA, and contribute to the evolution and development of networks around the world.
[Comment from NVIDIA Senior Vice President Telecom, Ronnie Vasistha] NVIDIA is pleased to work with NTT DOCOMO, Fujitsu and other ecosystem partners to bring software-based 5G virtualized base stations and edge AI applications to GPU-accelerated all-in-one systems. By combining NVIDIA’s 5G-compatible Aerial, XR for virtual reality, and Omniverse for realizing digital twins into a single system, GPU-equipped servers can enhance AI applications, enabling digital and real-world applications on 5G networks. can demonstrate how an immersive experience of twin worlds can be provided.
[Comment from Masaki Taniguchi, General Manager of Fujitsu’s Mobile Systems Business Headquarters]
Fully virtualized 5G base station software and multi-access edge computing (MEC) utilizing AI and XR applications are realized in an all-in-one configuration on the same computing resource, providing ultra-low latency services and highly optimized. We have achieved a low TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and green performance. We will continue to cooperate with global open ecosystem partners such as NTT DOCOMO and NVIDIA to contribute to the business development of telecommunications carriers and enterprise customers and the progress of global digitalization.
[Acknowledgments]
The technology of this solution utilizes some of the results of the “Research and Development Project for Strengthening Post-5G
Information Communication System Infrastructure” (JPNP20017) by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). [About Trademarks]
Proper nouns such as product names listed are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
[Comment]
(Note 1) NVIDIA: Headquarters: California, USA, CEO: Jensen Huang (Note 2) NTT Docomo, Inc.: Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Motoyuki Ii.
(Note 3) 5G Open RAN Ecosystem: NTT DoCoMo, Fujitsu and NTT DoCoMo, including vRAN commercialization, with the aim of global deployment of open radio access networks that enable the construction of flexible networks that can meet diverse needs. Efforts by partner companies. (Note 4) NVIDIA A100X: A converged accelerator provided by NVIDIA that combines the powerful parallel processing of the GPU with the high-speed networking processing of the DPU.
(Note 5) O-RAN: A specification of the O-RAN ALLIANCE, a
standardization organization that promotes the formulation of interoperable and open radio access network (Open RAN) specifications. Open RAN solutions comply with this specification. . Our company is a member of “O-RAN ALLIANCE”.
(Note 6) Virtualized base station that started to be provided from March 2022: Started to provide 5G virtualized base station that achieves both low power consumption and high performance
(https://pr.fujitsu.com/jp/news/2022/02/24.html) February 24, 2022 press release (Note 7) NVIDIA Aerial SDK: Software developer kit for deploying software-defined virtual base station functions using GPUs
(Note 8) UPF: Abbreviation for User Plane Function. Function for sending and receiving user data.
(Note 9) Massive MIMO: An elemental technology that employs a super-multi-element antenna that is expected to have the effect of large-capacity communication and utilization efficiency.
【 Related Links 】
・”MWC Barcelona 2023″ event site (English https://www.mwcbarcelona.com/) ・ Our network business global site (English
https://www.fujitsu.com/global/products/network/)
・Fujitsu MWC2023 special site (English
https://www.fujitsu.com/global/microsite/mwc-2023/)
[About our contribution to SDGs]
[Image 2
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 are common goals that the entire world should achieve by 2030. Our purpose (raison d’être), “to bring trust to society through innovation and make the world more sustainable,” promises to contribute to the SDGs.
[Image 3
Major SDGs that this project aims to contribute to
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