O-RAN: Analysis of Latency-critical Interfaces and Overview of Time Sensitive Networking Solutions

2026-07-29

AI Summary

This study addresses the challenge of providing deterministic guarantees for latency-sensitive interfaces in O-RAN architectures over low-cost, commodity Ethernet. It systematically reviews key Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) standards—including IEEE 802.1CM, 802.1Qbu, and 802.1Qbv—and proposes a TSN-enabled design space for O-RAN. The work analyzes deployment pathways within virtualized RAN (vRAN) and cloud-native environments, identifying critical technical requirements for achieving low-latency, high-reliability transport. Furthermore, it validates the feasibility of TSN in enabling multi-vendor interoperability and high flexibility in open RAN deployments, offering a practical and cost-effective technical roadmap for realizing deterministic fronthaul and midhaul networks.

Abstract

5G and B5G/6G foundations heavily rely on virtualization technologies, and virtualized Radio Access Networks (vRANs) are one of their major keystones. However, while vRANs have been traditionally suffering from significant hardware/software coupling, next generation vRANs aim for open, standardized interfaces and multi-vendor, interoperable components to enable truly flexible deployments following the cloud-native principles. In this line, the O-RAN Alliance is promoting a novel Open RAN architecture to further boost flexibility and cost efficiency. In order to reduce costs and effectively achieve the promised disaggregation levels, O-RAN must ensure shared, integrated transport networks in opposition to dedicated, over-provisioned links from traditional approaches. However, keeping deterministic performance requirements in such cost-effective networks (i.e., general-purpose Ethernet networks), especially in those interfaces that are time-critical, is a challenge. In this article, we review the most relevant Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) standards that may bring compelling benefits to O-RAN (i.e., IEEE 802.1CM, IEEE 802.1Qbu and IEEE 802.1Qbv) for providing determinism over cost-efficient networks. We explore the design space for a TSN-enabled O-RAN architecture, reporting on the requirements and deployment options and finally, we discuss on the opportunities and challenges that O-RAN will face when adopting TSN technologies to fully open the vRAN ecosystem.

Problem

• O-RAN
• Time Sensitive Networking
• latency-critical interfaces
• deterministic performance
• vRAN

Innovation

• O-RAN
• Time Sensitive Networking
• vRAN
• deterministic networking
• TSN standards