Leveraging NVIDIA’s GPU technology to increase processing power and enable base station functions and edge applications to run on the same server Fujitsu Limited
Tokyo, February 20, 2023
Fujitsu today announced the launch of a new 5G vRAN solution that combines Fujitsu’s virtualized CU (vCU) and virtualized DU (vDU) with NVIDIA’s (1) GPU technology. Fujitsu will start offering the new solution to customers including telecom operators worldwide from March 2023. The new solution was developed as part of the NTT DOCOMO (3) funded 5G Open RAN Ecosystem (OREC) (2) project, which also supported performance verification and evaluation testing of the new solution.
The solution applies NVIDIA’s “NVIDIA A100X” (4) GPU processing engine to the physical layer processing at the base station. In this way, the new solution enables parallel processing of virtualized base stations and edge applications on GPU hardware resources in an all-in-one configuration that allows every function to be built on the same server. This allows telcos to build a flexible open network with a simple device configuration that can be expanded with a variety of features. The solution also offers improved radio unit (RU) capacity and processing power, provides a high-quality communication environment, and is capable of handling high-load data processing as well as future improvements in antenna technologies.
With this new solution, Fujitsu wants to contribute to the global expansion of the open 5G network in cooperation with telecommunications operators such as NTT DOCOMO.
Fujitsu will showcase this solution at its booth at MWC Barcelona 2023, the world’s largest trade fair for the mobile industry, taking place from February 27 to March 2, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
background
Building more powerful and resilient systems is an increasingly pressing challenge for telecom providers operating their own networks.
Additionally, with the global trend towards open base station specifications such as O-RAN(5), the adoption of vRAN systems – software-based base stations that do not require dedicated hardware – is gaining increasing attention as they allow for flexible equipment sourcing and cost reduction. 5G, which offers ultra-fast, high-performance and low-latency communications based on Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC), is also expected to help realize new cutting-edge services in various industries.
Features of the new solution
Fujitsu combined its vRAN technology (6), introduced in March 2022, with NVIDIA’s “A100X” GPU processing engine, NVIDIA’s “Aerial SDK” (7) for base station processing, and a comprehensive AI framework developed by NVIDIA to create a Provide a deployable solution for a variety of use cases, from network operators to enterprise customers.
Figure: Image of the new vRAN solution1. Parallel base station and compute functions through GPU resource virtualization
By virtualizing the hardware resources of NVIDIA’s “A100X” GPU processing engine in the virtualized base stations, computing resources can be distributed and processed. As a result, wireless base station communication processing and computational processing using technologies including AI can be performed in parallel on the same GPU. In this way, Fujitsu realized a system in which various applications can be operated over 5G networks with a simpler all-in-one device configuration than before. The system will also help enterprise customers deliver new services, including AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) control at production sites and video distribution using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, by enabling the high-speed , high performance and low speed of 5G uses latency.
2. GPU for more computing power for wireless communication and scaling for future improvements in antenna technology
By harnessing the computing power of NVIDIA’s “A100X”, Fujitsu succeeded in enhancing the processing capacity of the base station system and providing a large number of users with a high-quality communication environment. Harnessing the high processing power of the “A100X”, the system requires only a simple software update to handle the high load data processing along with future improvements in antenna technologies including Massive MIMO(9).
Fujitsu will make this new solution available to NTT and other telcos worldwide to help roll out high quality 5G network infrastructure.
Sadayuki Abeta, Global Head of Open RAN Solutions, NTT DOCOMO & OREC Evangelist, comments:
“The industry is rapidly moving toward vRAN that can scale for a more flexible, extensible, and intelligent open RAN. Together with great OREC partners like Fujitsu and NVIDIA, we are committed to transforming the industry and accelerating wireless services around the world.”
Ronnie Vasistha, Senior Vice President, Telekom, NVIDIA, comments:
“NVIDIA is excited to be collaborating with NTT DOCOMO, Fujitsu and industry partners to realize the goal of software-defined 5G vRAN and edge AI applications in a GPU-accelerated all-in-one system. By combining NVIDIA’s Aerial for 5G, XR for Virtual Reality and Omniverse for digital twins in a single system, we will show how the same GPU-enabled server powers AI applications and an immersive experience of the world of digital and real twins over a 5G network can offer.”
Masaki Taniguchi, Senior Vice President, Mobile System Business Unit, Fujitsu comments:
“Fujitsu delivers fully virtualized 5G base station software and multi-access edge computing (MEC) supported by AI and XR applications in an all-in-one configuration on the same computing resources, offering ultra-low-cost services to customers latency and highly optimized total cost of ownership and green performance. Going forward, we will continue to work with NTT DOCOMO, NVIDIA and other global open ecosystem partners to contribute to the business development of telcos and enterprise customers and to advance digitization on a global scale.”
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Related LinksFujitsu’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 represent a set of common goals to be achieved worldwide by 2030.
Fujitsu’s purpose – “to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation” – is a promise to contribute to the vision of a better future, empowered by the SDGs.
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About Fujitsu
Fujitsu’s goal is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the preferred digital transformation partner for clients in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. Our range of services and solutions are built around five key technologies: compute, networks, AI, data and security, and converging technologies that we bring together to enable sustainable transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated sales of 3.6 trillion yen (US$32 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2022 and remains the leading digital services company in Japan in terms of market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.
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Date: February 20, 2023
City: Tokyo, Japan
Company: Fujitsu Limited
