Independent, flexible and future-proof – that is the private and mobile 5G private network from COCUS. But what exactly is in the compact 70x100cm 5G rack and what is part of the 5G infrastructure? What are the main components that quickly and easily enable a standalone cellular network on any site?
That's what's in the COCUS 5G mobile private network
5G mobile private networks offer industrial customers the opportunity to extend their own network with a mobile 5G network for their respective applications. Private frequency bands ensure that business-critical data remains securely within the campus network. Among other benefits, 5G technology offers enterprises the advantage of higher bandwidth and lower latency. Read more: 5G advantages
The mobile private network can be provided in different ways: On the one hand, there is the conventional RAN (radio access network) architecture, which includes vendor-owned systems. Open-RAN, on the other hand, brings a flexible and dynamic architecture to the construction of the radio network (RAN), as it separates the hardware from the software. This enables cross-manufacturer use of standard hardware and software solutions. Read more: How a 5G mobile private network works
COCUS 5G Packet Core
A packet core handles a variety of essential mobile network functions, for example, connectivity and mobility management, authentication and authorization, subscriber and policy management. The COCUS 5G Packet Core is fully software-based and cloud-native based on 3GPP Release 16, which means it is independent of the underlying hardware infrastructure and enables greater agility and flexibility through the use of Kubernetes.
Central Unit (CU)
The Central Unit (CU) Server is a logical node that includes several functions. This includes, for example, user data transfer, mobility control, radio access network sharing, positioning and more. Exceptions to this are functions that are exclusively assigned to the Distributed Unit (DU). The CU is controlled by the 5G Packet Core and itself controls the operation of multiple DUs. The CU’s server and associated software can either be located directly at DU or hosted in a regional cloud data center. In the case of the COCUS 5G Campus network, CU and DU are installed directly next to each other.
Distributed Unit (DU)
The Distributed Unit (DU) Server is a distributed unit which is used to control the Radio Units (RU), i.e. the antenna hardware. This logical node includes a subset of the required antenna functions and its operation is controlled by the CU. The DU and RU are separated from each other, but are always in close proximity, as the antenna units are connected to the DU. The split RAN solution enables radio units from different providers to be used.
Radio Unit (RU)
The Radio Unit (RU) is the antenna unit of the private mobile radio system. They convert the radio signals sent to them into a digital signal so that they can be transmitted into the network. The state-of-the-art 5G antennas are selected and deployed according to customized radio network planning. They support private, high-performance and secure networks of any size. A distinction is also made between indoor and outdoor antennas. The 5G COCUS mobile private network can operate as an indoor and outdoor solution, but also supports hybrid deployment of mixed solutions. For our 5G Open-RAN solution, we have chosen Airspan as our partner. In this way, we offer joint solutions to provide the future of mobile networks today.
Switch
The switch connects all components of the 5G infrastructure and controls the critical part of the COCUS 5G mobile private network: network timing and synchronization. With high capacity, low latency and high-precision synchronization, the switch enables 5G RAN operation.
