Navigating the 5G evolution

5G technology is the powerhouse of today’s telecommunications landscape. It enables users to quickly connect and communicate with faster internet speeds and up to 1,000× more capacity than 4G.

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Over the past several years, the 5G rollout has made significant strides due to increased demand for high-performance wireless networks, stemming from the rise of video-based media entertainment and the adoption of cloud enterprise operating models. McKinsey & Company estimates that the number of connected devices will reach 51.9 billion by 2025, and connectivity will expand to up to 80% of the global population by 2030. While this growing number of connected devices allows for improved communication, greater innovation and more powerful insights, it also creates challenges for telecom providers to maintain security and efficiency.

This rapid growth of 5G also means that the telecom landscape is constantly changing due to the introduction of new technologies and processes, such as small-cell solutions and open radio access networks (open RANs, or O-RANs). This is why field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are emerging as a critical solution to support these new technologies and help drive future connectivity.

The rise of small cells

Amid the expansion of 5G, we are seeing a rising dependency on small-cell technology. Small-cell solutions provide targeted coverage and the necessary infrastructure to support the 5G network’s high-speed and high-capacity demands. They allow for a more granular deployment of 5G infrastructure, ensuring that coverage extends into the areas most in need and can meet the specific demands of different environments and applications.

Comprised of microcells, picocells and femtocells, this technology enables 5G networks to meet the specific demands of various environments and applications and ensure coverage reaches its intended areas. Microcells are deployed in urban areas where the user density is too high to fill the gaps between macro cells, while picocells are a solution for indoor spaces, such as offices, shopping malls and airports, to provide high-capacity coverage within confined areas. Femtocells cater to hyper-localized needs like small businesses or residential premises and are typically user-driven when operationalized.

Despite the many advantages of small-cell solutions, there are also many challenges in their implementation. The environments where small cells are deployed can have drastically different requirements for latency and bandwidth. For example, industrial settings that utilize many sensors and actuators will have very different bandwidth and latency requirements than an application involving high-definition video or applications that require real-time feedback and control, such as robotic automation.

Another key challenge is the need for security in small-cell deployment. Security is critical for not only protecting sensitive data but also for maintaining integrity, reliability and trust in cellular networks. Security requirements are constantly changing due to evolving regulations and emerging threats. Therefore, as these environments and applications vary, small-cell deployments require increased flexibility to adapt to various network conditions, traffic patterns and emerging standards.

The introduction of O-RAN

Telecom providers are tapping into disaggregated networks like O-RAN to continue advancing 5G capabilities. These open architectures offer the flexibility of creating best-of-breed solutions by combining elements from multiple vendors and give operators the flexibility to extend 5G networks to more users. This also encourages innovation among the expanded set of vendors contributing solutions, as they have more options and can easily create new services.

While pivoting away from centralized models can promote flexibility and innovation, it also increases the attack surface and makes the network more vulnerable to bad actors. Even further, the integration of equipment from multiple vendors can lead to compatibility challenges, potentially impacting network performance.

Bolstering 5G architecture with FPGAs

To enhance 5G networks and better support small-cell solutions and the O-RAN architecture, telecom providers are leveraging FPGAs. For small-cell solutions, FPGAs can help improve flexibility, reduce latency issues and provide robust security. FPGAs are reconfigurable and crypto-agile solutions designed for flexible implementation—they can be programmed and reprogrammed to align with new standards or network requirements without being removed from their host device.

To reduce latency, FPGAs contain parallel processing capabilities that enable the execution of multiple tasks simultaneously. They can also help optimize specific applications to achieve higher performance per watt. Not only does this remedy any latency issues, but it also reduces power consumption, a critical concern for bandwidth-intensive applications or systems that process massive amounts of data.

FPGAs are also a useful tool for O-RAN deployment, as they help shore up security and streamline synchronization. As cyber threats grow more prominent, they are key to protecting, detecting and recovering from attacks. Utilizing zero-trust and hardware root-of-trust foundations, FPGAs establish user and device identities before allowing data exchanges or signals and contain dedicated security engines that can be proven and tested through unique IDs. This ensures that a system’s core functions and critical components can be verified at any time and remain protected.

Additionally, for O-RAN-based networks, high-precision timing is required; otherwise, networks can experience poor performance, attacks or even complete failure. Secure FPGAs utilize mutual authentication coupled with IEEE 1588 PTP to synchronize all major components of O-RAN architecture, including the radio unit, distributed unit and control unit, providing the necessary security to ensure networks aren’t compromised and all the major components are timed precisely.

Building a stronger 5G future

With the emergence of new technologies like small-cell solutions and O-RAN, telecom providers are positioned to extend network coverage, create more innovative solutions and optimize networks. However, they are also confronted with more intricate requirements and security concerns. Organizations must be positioned to address these requirements and concerns to meet demand, mitigate risk and maintain business continuity.

As telecom providers navigate this rapidly evolving and complex landscape, FPGAs will continue to play a critical role in embracing innovation, fostering collaboration and adapting to new technologies. Leveraging these tools at scale not only helps overcome roadblocks but also facilitates the development of flexible, secure and efficient infrastructure. Equipped with agile tools like FPGAs coupled with their deep understanding of small cells and O-RAN, telecom providers can provide reliable and efficient networks that meet the diverse demands of 5G applications and services.