IEEE 1914.1-2019

This standard specifies the following: Architecture for the transport of mobile fronthaul traffic over packet-based networks (e.g., Ethernet), including user data traffic, and management and control plane traffic; Requirements and definitions for the fronthaul networks, including data rates, timing and synchronization, and quality of service (QoS). The standard also analyzes functional partitioning schemes between remote radio units (RRUs) and baseband units (BBUs) that improve fronthaul link efficiency and interoperability among transport equipment, and that facilitate the realization of cooperative radio functions, such as massive multiple input

The fronthaul packet transport standard supports enabling the implementation of critical 5G technologies, such as massive MIMO, beamforming, carrier aggregation, CoMP, and scalable centralized/virtualized radio access network (C-RAN/V-RAN) functions. This standard simplifies network design and operation, increases network flexibility and efficiency in resource utilization, and lowers cost by leveraging existing, mature packet-based solutions (e.g., Ethernet) for vital functions, such as QoS, synchronization, and data security. The fronthaul architecture provides unified management and control solutions, common networking protocols, and universal network elements, thus facilitating migration to future C-RAN/V-RAN mobile networks. This standard improves bandwidth efficiency, network scalability, timing, and synchronization performance; and preserves and enhances the ability to deploy cooperative radio functions.

New IEEE Standard - Active. The architecture and requirements for next generation fronthaul networks are specified in this standard. NGFI-I is defined as the next generation fronthaul network with low layer splits in a baseband station. NGFI-II is defined as the next generation fronthaul network with high layer splits in a baseband station. The requirements of fronthaul transport nodes in these networks are also specified.