Job Description
About Nokia
At Nokia we create the technology to connect the world. Developing and delivering the industry's only end-to-end portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing that is available globally. Through our research teams, including the world-renowned Nokia Bell Labs, Nokia is leading the world to adopt end-to-end 5G networks that are faster, more secure and capable of revolutionizing lives, economies and societies. Nokia adheres to the highest ethical business standards as we create technology with social purpose, quality and integrity. A truly global company, we are 160 nationalities working in more than 100 countries.
About Mobile Networks
In Mobile Networks our goal is to be a leader in 5G and provide the best value to our customers as they evolve their networks. We continue to develop our 5G portfolio according to the latest 3GPP specifications. With more than 2,100 patent families essential for 5G, we are proud of the number of industry firsts that we have completed on the path to 5G commercialization. Nokia is also the only end-to-end mobile network vendor working with the major operators around the world.
Nokia is a leader in vRAN solution with virtualised CU and DU network elements. The role advertised here is an End-to-end feature lifecycle role which includes studying any prior-art/relevant concepts, proposing architecture solution for the problems to be solved and taking feedback from testing phase and customer cases for further improvements. This is an excellent opportunity for a self-organized and motivated individual to work in a multi-culture, multi-site/country environment and have an opportunity to work on and learn new technologies.
Title: 5G Cloud RAN architect O-RAN Fronthaul & radio site solutions
Job Description
- Individual contributor Specifications Engineer working on system architecture and feasibility studies
- Create FH/Radio network solutions from DU to Radio Units over timing sensitive network
- Work involves both (a) system level and (b) vDU (virtualized DU) internal architecture for the fronthaul interface aspects
-(a) System level topics: Centralized-Cloud RAN fronthaul architecture where multiple servers can be serving cells on multiple radio units (RU) across set of switches and routers (timing sensitive network), transport solution with BH/FH link redundancy, VLAN and IP planning, sync solution, NIC port/SFP usage and switch ports and features analysis
-(b) vDU architecture aspects: Fronthaul (FH) termination architecture e.g. load balancing across multiple NIC ports on vDU, possible use of NIC capabilities e.g. Intel DDP, FH Bandwidth estimations based on cell BW/MIMO layers/beamforming etc.
- Work on virtualized DU compliance (i.e. needed functions, capabilities) on O-RAN Fronthaul (FH) interface for CAT-A and CAT-B O-RUs
- evaluation of vendor/partner offerings (NIC, HW accelerators for crypto or L1, switches, synchronization solutions) to best fit the Nokia Cloud RAN architecture. This includes sometimes vendor discussions as well or push them to implement new features.
Competencies
- Background on LTE/5G RAN - concepts of network architecture and radio protocols/procedures
- knowledge/work experience on radio site solution area of work is very valuable, in particular, how the DU/vDU are connected to RU (VLANs/MAC/antenna carrier allocations and mapping), FH bandwidth and related
- Good learnability, flexibility (in taking tasks), super collaborator
- Work experience on the LTE/5G Radio L1/L2 protocols (packet scheduler and L1 preferred)
- Knowledge on Fronthaul (7.2, LLS) interface including CPRI/eCPRI interface, O-RAN Fronthaul C/U/M planes
- Awareness of RRM concepts to be able to derive FH impacts due to RRM features, e.g. TDD/FDD L1 frame structures, mMIMO, Beamforming features, pooling (UE/PRB/Spatial layers etc.) etc.
- Knowledge of O-RAN FH and preferably the FH compliance requirements C/U planes in particular
- Work experience on RAN real time SW or protocols like Packet Scheduler, L1, MAC, etc. is added value
- Innovative and dare to take (intelligent) risks - the Cloud RAN & O-RAN concepts are still in developing stage and few things need to be invented and tried, no easy ready-made fit-all solutions
- The role requires to collaborate with global virtual teams (US/ EU and China TZ) clear & concise communication is important