Nokia on Monday detailed its 5G architecture called Future X and explained the scope of the solution that’s meant to serve as the foundation for its reference silicon design, as well as the key to enabling its upcoming products and services relying on the next generation of mobile networks. Besides massive performance increases that are promised across all relevant metrics, the Finnish telecom giant claims its solution is perfectly scalable, being able to support any kind of deployment scenarios. Most industry watchers agree that scalability will be an important factor in the 5G revolution, with the networks themselves being expected to allow for entirely new technologies that are likely to lead to constantly growing infrastructural requirements. Nokia is planning to cater to such frequently shifting needs by relying on network slicing, i.e. virtualizing its network architecture so as to dedicate specific portions of it to individual (groups of) services and device types.
Machine learning and general artificial intelligence applications are also described as an integral component of Future X, with Nokia stating the full potential of 5G technologies won’t be achievable without a significant degree of automation. AI-powered systems should allow its infrastructure to optimize its performance on the go, account for real-time changes in infrastructural demands, and become better at doing so over time. The firm is estimating such an approach could increase operational savings by up to approximately 30 percent, depending on the use cases. Likewise, Future X is meant to triple the wireless throughput of Nokia’s RAN solutions.
In total, the Future X platform encompasses eight major technologies meant to enable a comprehensive 5G networking solution. The software side of things is handled by Nokia 5G New Radio, a system that’s entirely compliant with the 3GPP’s Release 15 standard finalized last month in Lisbon, Portugal. Guidelines for creating and maintaining scalable 5G infrastructure are detailed as part of the Nokia AirScale Radio Access platform which has been specifically designed to account for the features of the telecom giant’s 5G AirScale active antennas, as well as its 5G small cells. The firm’s Anyhaul mobile transport portfolio has already been designed to account for 5G connectivity, placing a particular focus on automation. Nokia 5G Core, Massive Scale Access, and 5G Acceleration Services are also part of the Future X package, being meant to facilitate the adoption of the upcoming technologies on the business side of things. The newly detailed 5G solutions will be showcased late next month at MWC 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.