What is the impact of RAN on mobile network latency?

1 What is RAN?

RAN is the part of a mobile network that connects your device to the core network through radio waves. It consists of two main components: the base station, which is the antenna that transmits and receives signals, and the radio network controller, which manages the traffic and resources of the base station. RAN can use different technologies and standards, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G, to provide different levels of speed and quality of service.

2 How does RAN work?

RAN works by converting the data from your device into radio signals and sending them to the base station. The base station then forwards them to the radio network controller, which routes them to the core network. The core network is responsible for processing and delivering the data to the destination, such as a web server or another device. The same process happens in reverse when you receive data from the internet.

4 How can RAN latency be reduced?

There are several ways to reduce RAN latency, such as using higher frequency bands that carry more data and have less interference but have shorter range and penetration. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas can also be used to send and receive multiple signals simultaneously, which can improve signal quality and capacity. Additionally, beamforming techniques can focus the radio signals in a specific direction, reducing interference and power consumption. Small cells, which are low-power base stations that cover smaller areas and serve more users with less congestion and distance, can also be employed. Finally, edge computing can move some of the data processing and delivery closer to the users, reducing reliance on the core network.

5 What are the benefits of low RAN latency?

Low RAN latency can improve your mobile network performance and enable new applications and services, such as enhanced mobile broadband for faster and more reliable internet access, ultra-reliable low-latency communication for critical and time-sensitive applications, and massive machine-type communication for large-scale and low-power IoT devices. These applications can support high-quality video streaming and downloading, remote surgery, autonomous driving, industrial automation, smart meters, sensors, and trackers.