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

TLDR

5G seeks to boost capacity, reliability, and energy efficiency while dramatically reducing latency and supporting massive connection density, including enabling real‑time touch‑perception communication at the network edge. This survey investigates how architectural changes in the core network, radio access network, and caching can deliver end‑to‑end latency of about 1 ms. The authors review key 5G technologies—software‑defined networking, network function virtualization, caching, and mobile edge computing—that collectively support the low‑latency requirements.

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: 1) RAN; 2) core network; and 3) caching. We also present a general overview of major 5G cellular network elements such as software defined network, network function virtualization, caching, and mobile edge computing capable of meeting latency and other 5G requirements.