Role of FPGA in Waveform Agnostic Radio Units

This technical report discusses the role of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) in the design and implementation of waveform agnostic Radio Units (RUs) for 5G and 6G applications. The report outlines how the ORAN architecture supports software-defined RUs that can adapt to various waveform technologies, enhancing modularity, scalability, and interoperability. It details the advantages of using FPGA over ASIC, emphasizing FPGA's flexibility and reconfigurability, which are crucial for adapting to evolving standards and protocols in telecommunications. The report also highlights the security features inherent in FPGA technology, such as encryption and secure boot mechanisms, which help mitigate cybersecurity risks. Additionally, it presents the system architecture that incorporates both FPGA and ASIC components to optimize performance and adaptability. The report concludes by addressing the goals of 6G systems, including peak data rates, low latency, and sustainability, and how FPGA technology contributes to achieving these objectives.