One of the biggest challenges in the vRAN business case is the fronthaul. In topologies like Orange’s in Chelm, links of many miles must be supported, which involves access to very low latency, modern fiber. Orange has deployed its own fiber in many parts of Poland and so has the benefit of a modern fixed line transport network, but many MNOs have to rely on leased lines or dark fiber, whose costs vary greatly between regions. These long links enable a high level of consolidation of radio heads, and the maximum efficiencies gained from centralizing their processes. But there are trade-offs in terms of latency at the edge of the network, which become even deeper if ‘non-ideal’ fronthaul (sub-optimal fiber,…