A Survey on Low Latency Towards 5G: RAN, Core Network and Caching Solutions

TL;DR

This survey reviews emerging low latency solutions in 5G networks, focusing on RAN, core network, and caching technologies, to enable real-time applications like robotics and haptics at the network edge.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in low latency 5G solutions across RAN, core, and caching domains, highlighting architectural changes needed for 1 ms latency.

Findings

Identifies key technologies like SDN, NFV, MEC for low latency 5G

Highlights architectural modifications for 1 ms latency

Summarizes current state of low latency 5G solutions

Abstract

The fifth generation (5G) wireless network technology is to be standardized by 2020, where main goals are to improve capacity, reliability, and energy efficiency, while reducing latency and massively increasing connection density. An integral part of 5G is the capability to transmit touch perception type real-time communication empowered by applicable robotics and haptics equipment at the network edge. In this regard, we need drastic changes in network architecture including core and radio access network (RAN) for achieving end-to-end latency on the order of 1 ms. In this paper, we present a detailed survey on the emerging technologies to achieve low latency communications considering three different solution domains: RAN, core network, and caching. We also present a general overview of 5G cellular networks composed of software defined network (SDN), network function virtualization (NFV), caching, and mobile edge computing (MEC) capable of meeting latency and other 5G requirements.