European and Taiwanese industrial and academic partners join to develop a 5G Convergent Virtualised Radio Access Network Living at the Edge

06 November 2017

The 5G-CORAL project aims at delivering a convergent 5G multi-RAT access through an integrated virtualised edge and fog solution that is flexible, scalable, and interoperable with other domains including transport (fronthaul, backhaul), core and clouds. 5G-CORAL is part of the European H2020 ‘5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership’ (5G-PPP).

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A consortium of European and Taiwanese industrial and academic partners launched its activities towards the development of a system model that includes use cases, requirements, architecture, and business models. The consortium comprises 10 partners: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Ericsson AB, InterDigital Europe, Telecom Italia, Telcaria Ideas, SICS Swedish ICT AB, Azcom Technology, Industrial Technology Research Institute Incorporated, ADLINK, and National Chiao Tung University. The 24-month project, which started on 1st September 2017, received a grant of 2.49 million euros from the European Commission.

5G-CORAL project leverages on the pervasiveness of edge and fog computing in the Radio Access Network (RAN) to create a unique opportunity for access convergence. This is envisioned by the means of an integrated and virtualised networking and computing solution where virtualised functions, context-aware services, and user and third-party applications are blended together to offer enhanced connectivity and better quality of experience.

The proposed solution contemplates two major building blocks. Firstly, the Edge and Fog computing System (EFS) subsuming all the edge and fog computing substrate offered as a shared hosting environment for virtualised functions, services, and applications. Secondly, the Orchestration and Control System (OCS) responsible for managing and controlling the EFS, including its interworking with other (non-EFS) domains.

The 5G-CORAL project will be validated in three testbeds, one in the shopping mall in Taiwan, another in a high-speed train in Taiwan, and a third in connected cars both in Taiwan and in Italy.

5G-CORAL is also one of a series of European research projects to which scientists from 5TONIC actively contribute. Founded by experts from Telefónica R&D labs and IMDEA Networks, 5TONIC is Spain’s first laboratory of excellence in research and innovation on 5G technologies.