Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

In this article, we will talk about 5G LAN.

If you have a little understanding of communication technology, you will find that 5G LAN is actually a very interesting concept.

For 5G, everyone should be familiar with it, it is the evolution of 4G, but also our latest mobile communication technology.

And for LAN, everyone should be more familiar. Its full name is local area network, that is, local area network. Our home network, as well as the network in the company office, is basically LAN. Wi-Fi is Wireless LAN (WLAN).

So why do I say 5G LAN is interesting?

Because 5G is a wide coverage cellular communication network, and LAN is a small area data communication network. The two technologies seem unrelated.

In other words, the two words 5G and LAN are recognized separately. However, when they were put together, it was a little confusing. Isn't that right?

5G LAN, what is it? In fact, 5G LAN, simply speaking, is to use 5G technology to "group" and "group" terminals to form a LAN network.

Everyone has a 5G phone. When using a 5G phone, have you found that even if you are close to your friends (even face-to-face), your phone can't find each other. The reason you can communicate with each other is because the data flows to the carrier or Internet service provider's server and goes around.

For base stations, all mobile phone terminals are "isolated." This is based on security considerations, mobile phones use their own channels, do not interfere with each other.

LAN, on the other hand, connects terminals (mobile phones, computers, etc.) in an area together into a "group." This not only facilitates the data transmission between each other, but also saves the external network exit.

In LAN, terminals can locate each other through MAC address, and find each other (layer 2 communication). In and out of the external network, set up a router, through IP address, can also achieve routing in and out (layer 3 communication).

We all know that "4G changes life, 5G changes society." As the most mainstream mobile communication technology at present, 5G shoulders the mission of "Internet of Everything, Assist Digital Transformation of Hundreds of Industries," and needs to help users in vertical industries get through connections.

Then, 5G can not only get through the connection from each terminal to the cloud, but also realize the "nearest connection" between terminals.

Therefore, in the 3GPP R16 standard, the new feature function of 5G LAN was introduced.

In 5G networks, managers can modify the data in the subscriber database (UDM network element) and sign up for services for specified terminal (UE) numbers, thus dividing them into the same or different VN Groups (Virtual Network Groups).

The subscriber database provides the VN group information of the terminal number and the access policy to the management network elements (SMF, AMF, PCF, etc.) of the 5G core network (5GC). Based on this information and policy rules, management network elements organize them into different LANs. This is 5G LAN.

5G LAN network architecture diagram 5G LAN supports layer 2 communication (same network segment, direct access to each other), and also supports layer 3 communication (cross-network segment, with routing). 5G LAN supports unicast, multicast and broadcast. Simply put, mutual access is very flexible, networking is also very simple.

From the perspective of scope, 5G LAN not only supports mutual communication under the same UPF (media plane network element of 5G core network), but also supports mutual communication under different UPF. This is equivalent to breaking the physical distance limit between terminals (even Beijing and Shanghai can communicate).

A particularly important point is that the network established by 5G LAN can be connected with the user's existing data network, thus realizing plug and play and mutual access.

5G LAN enables grouping and connection between designated 5G terminals, which greatly facilitates enterprises to build more mobile LAN networks. Many readers will surely ask, isn't mobility already possible with existing Wi-Fi technology? Why do we need 5G LAN?

Don't worry, let's keep looking.

The local networking realized by 5G LAN can help enterprises, schools, governments, families and other users to better interconnect terminals within the region. It can be used for office network, but its greater value lies in the transformation of the production environment of the park and the transformation of the grass-roots network of production-oriented enterprises such as industrial manufacturing, port terminals and energy mines.

We are now promoting the industrial Internet. We think that 5G can enable the digitalization of industrial scenarios, because 5G has the characteristics of large bandwidth and low delay. It is an excellent wireless communication technology, which can realize the wireless connection of various production factors in industrial scenarios.

Take industrial manufacturing for example. Previously, in order to better automate and control equipment, the "industrial bus" technology was used. There are many types of this technology, which can be described as "multifarious."

Later, with the emergence of Ethernet and IP technology, the industrial community formed a consensus and evolved to Ethernet together, resulting in "Industrial Ethernet." Now, no matter whose industrial interconnection protocol is, it is basically based on Ethernet.

Later, industrial companies discovered that wired connections were too restrictive on mobility-there was always a "braid" behind the device that prevented free movement.

Moreover, the wired connection deployment method is more troublesome, the construction period is long, and the cost is high. Once the equipment or cable has a problem, replacement is also very delayed. So the industry started thinking about introducing wireless communications technology.

As a result, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other technologies have entered the industrial field.

So, back to the previous question, since there is Wi-Fi, why 5G LAN?

The reasons are as follows:

Wi-Fi networks (especially Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5) are not as good as 5G. In terms of transmission rate and delay, 5G can better meet the requirements of industrial robot (robot arm control), intelligent quality inspection (high-speed image recognition), AGV (unmanned logistics vehicle) and other scenarios.

In terms of coverage, 5G has a larger coverage than Wi-Fi and can better cover the campus. 5G's inter-cell handover capability is also stronger than Wi-Fi, which can bring users a better network experience.

Second, Wi-Fi network maintenance costs are high. Enterprises need to build their own Wi-Fi network and buy their own equipment. Equipment has depreciation, damage, replacement, but also special maintenance. Wi-Fi devices are massive and configuration is troublesome.

5G is different. It is built and maintained by the operator, and the enterprise belongs to rental (Wi-Fi vs. 5G, a bit like self-built computer room vs. cloud computing).

Overall, 5G will be more cost-effective.

Third, the function of 5G LAN is more powerful. The VN grouping of 5G LAN mentioned earlier. In addition to isolating communication, a more important role of packets is to achieve QoS (service level) differentiation among different networks.

For example, there are office networks, IT systems networks, OT networks, etc. within an enterprise.

OT stands for Operational Technology. In fact, it is a network connecting industrial environments and equipment, such as lathes, robots, sensors, instrumentation, AGVs, monitoring systems, MES, PLC, etc.

Different networks have different performance requirements, some need low latency, some need large bandwidth, and some do not have so many requirements.

5G LAN can define different network performance for different VN packets on a packet basis. Some enterprises call it "micro-slicing."

5G LAN is easy to manage and more secure. As mentioned above, user subscription data can be modified in the operator's 5G UDM network element to perform VN grouping for users. So, do we have to ask the operator customer service every time we need to change the grouping information of a terminal (add, delete, change)?

Of course not.

The operator 5G network can open the modification right to the enterprise network manager by developing the interface to realize self-service modification.

Of course, enterprises can also set up their own private network strategies according to their own needs.

When establishing data connections, enterprises can also set up authorization and authentication mechanisms to strictly manage VN packets. This security is much stronger than Wi-Fi and much more convenient.

Next, let's take a look at the benefits of 5G LAN through a specific networking case.

First of all, a manufacturing enterprise, with its own workshop, production line (or lathe), needs to connect PLC and PLC control end through network.

Each assembly line has a lot of equipment and is independent. It is ideal to install 5G modules on every equipment of the assembly line. However, the cost seems to be a bit expensive at this stage.

Then, we introduce 5G industrial gateway, or 5G CPE, which can improve the cost performance. Suitable for wired, wired port connection (Ethernet port, or PLC port). It is suitable for wireless connection, 5G or Wi-Fi.

If 5G does not support 5G LAN (before R16), it is also possible to realize the connection between PLC and PLC controller. However, the whole 5G network is a three-layer protocol relying on IP addressing, and the terminal address is also an IP address, which does not support Layer 2 data forwarding. In order to realize end-to-end communication, it is necessary to add an AR (Access Router) on both sides to establish a tunnel, encapsulate the industrial layer 2 protocol in the tunnel, and bring it to the opposite end.

This approach not only increases complexity, but also increases costs (AR router purchase costs, AR router configuration labor and time costs). Imagine if there were thousands of assembly lines in the workshop, and the cost would be staggering.

After the introduction of 5G LAN, 5G network supports direct transmission layer 2 protocol, so AR router is no longer needed. At the same time, the 5G network can provide routing for terminals without IP addresses, UPF can identify the MAC address of the terminal, and the whole network becomes a simple single-layer network for layer 2 communication with each other.

The plug-and-play capability of 5G LAN can perfectly integrate itself with the customer's existing network, reduce the impact on the customer's existing network, and save a lot of cost without having to upgrade and upgrade.

From a macro perspective, 5G LAN is a collaboration between 5G and Ethernet technology. In the future, TSN (Time Sensitive Network) technology based on Ethernet technology development will also be inseparable from the help of 5G LAN.

It is worth mentioning that 5G LAN is not only conducive to the construction of the internal network of the park, but also can be used as a supplement to the traditional dedicated network of enterprises to connect branches in different places.

As you can see, 5G LAN is an important innovative technology for 5G to land in vertical industries. It can build stronger 5G private network communication and help customers accelerate digital transformation and upgrading.

To better deploy 5G LAN, in addition to network side upgrades, 5G module support is also needed.

In the process of commercial implementation of 5G LAN technology, Ziguang Zhanrui launched the industry's first 5G R16 Ready baseband chip platform-V516.

Based on this platform, Quectel, a leading module manufacturer in China, has successfully developed a variety of 5G modules supporting 5G LAN technology, which have been commercialized, including LGA, M.2, Mini PCIe package modules such as RG 500U, RG 200U, RM 500U, etc.

These modules have the characteristics of high reliability, which can realize ms-level air interface delay and 5G network timing with accuracy up to 1us, which can better meet the application requirements of industrial Internet industry such as industrial manufacturing high-precision machine cooperation, warehouse logistics multi-vehicle cooperation, smart grid differential protection, etc.

In Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, a well-known enterprise adopted remote communication 5G LAN module, established 5G fully connected factory, and completed the first 5G LAN commercial pilot in China.

As an automobile aluminum alloy precision die casting manufacturing enterprise, this enterprise focuses on the field of automobile parts manufacturing and is a typical discrete manufacturing enterprise.

The six factories below it are scattered in different locations of an industrial park in Ningbo City. 5G LAN technology helps these factories realize more flexible connection, which improves the adjustment efficiency of factory production line by 70%(7 days → 2 days), doubles the delivery efficiency of MES networking (6 months → 3 months), and saves about 750 person-days of tunnel configuration maintenance every year.

The 5G equipment installed in the factory area of a well-known enterprise is here, and the "5G + Industrial Internet" truly realizes the enabling of "flexible production."

In a certain automobile brand, a university smart building, an industrial enterprise flexible factory and other projects, 5G LAN has also achieved successful landing. In the future, 5G LAN will appear more in our vision, enabling the digital transformation of hundreds of thousands of parks in China.

Industrial Internet is the cornerstone of the fourth industrial revolution. Technological innovation of 5G private network such as 5G LAN is of great significance to the overall digitalization, networking and intelligence of industrial field.

With the freezing of the 5G R17 version, we gradually ushered in the era of 5G-Advanced. New wonderful things continue, and new technological innovations continue to emerge.

The accumulated innovation will eventually lead mankind to "the wisdom of all things." Let's wait and see!

This article comes from Weixin Official Accounts: Fresh Jujube Class (ID: xzclasscom), Author: Xiaozaojun

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