The emerging Cloud-RAN architecture within the fifth generation (5G) of
wireless networks plays a vital role in enabling higher flexibility and
granularity. On the other hand, Cloud-RAN architecture introduces an additional
link between the central, cloudified unit and the distributed radio unit,
namely fronthaul (FH). Therefore, the foreseen reliability and latency for 5G
services should also be provisioned over the FH link. In this paper, focusing
on Ethernet as FH, we present a reliable packet-based FH communication and
demonstrate the upper and lower bounds of latency that can be offered. These
bounds yield insights into the trade-off between reliability and latency, and
enable the architecture design through choice of splitting point, focusing on
high layer split between PDCP and RLC and low layer split between MAC and PHY,
under different FH bandwidth and traffic properties. Presented model is then
analyzed both numerically and through simulation, with two classes of 5G
services that are ultra reliable low latency (URLL) and enhanced mobile
broadband (eMBB).Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, conference paper (ICC19
