5G Open RAN Field Trial on Japan Monorail System led by Compal Electronics
Private Networks on the move
More enterprises are turning to Private 5G Networks to ensure they have access to the high quality connectivity they increasingly rely on to run their businesses.
These networks operate independently from mobile operator networks. They do this by either leasing spectrum directly from an operator or by owning a licence of their own. Indeed, governments and local authorities are increasingly setting aside spectrum for private licensing.
One of the key verticals set to benefit from Private 5G Networks is the transport and logistics sector. Telecom Analyst Dean Bubley notes in his Private Networks for Transportation & Logistics eBook that demand is being driven by a number of factors including:
- Automation and robotics
- Data & analytics
- Predictive maintenance & asset management
- Improved employee safety and productivity
- Climate change and decarbonization
- Geopolitics, re-shoring and supply-chain resilience
- Cybersecurity
- Customer care + value added services
This makes sense because “transportation companies (…) have long had sophisticated network infrastructure, often integrated with IoT and automation systems (“OT”, or “Operational Technology”), as well as more conventional IT and telecoms needs.”
In addition, open and disaggregated network solutions like Open RAN are set to catalyse the Private Network market by offering increased performance, flexibility and cost efficiency.
Compal Electronics leads 5G Open RAN Field Trial on Japan Monorail
This trend is exemplified by a recent multi-vendor 5G Open RAN field trial conducted on a Japan Monorail system.
The integration of 5G and O-RAN technologies in this scenario offers numerous benefits. The high-speed, low-latency capabilities of 5G enhance real-time data transmission between the monorail and control centres. This in turn enables swifter responses to any operational issues while improving the overall efficiency of the monorail operations and enhances passenger safety.
In this trial, Compal Electronics supplied the Radio Unit (RU). Compal also managed system integration, including complex Layer 2/3 protocol stacks.
NXP supplied advanced Layerscape multi-core ARM processors and baseband processors. These components were essential to the GENEViSiO DU (Distributed Unit) inline accelerator card.
Vicinity contributed specialized high-PHY and related protocols for the GENEViSiO DU accelerator card. These are vital for optimizing data transmission, ensuring high-speed connectivity with minimal latency, and enhancing overall 5G O-RAN deployment performance and reliability.
The GENEViSiO DU accelerator card features precise IEEE 1588 time synchronization solutions, especially crucial for upholding 5G communications’ integrity and efficiency across a multi-vendor network deployed on public transport.
Beware the hype!
With growing interest comes growing hype. Analyst houses and boutique consultancies alike are flooding the market with eye watering forecasts for the private network market. The Private Networks Technology Blog has compiled a list of various forecasts which I found amusing to read. You can find it here.
