What Is Radio Access Network (RAN)?
You've probably heard the term "radio access network" before, but you might not know what it is or how it works. Radio access networks connect devices to other parts of a network through radio connections. This technology is used in modern telecommunications, with 3G and 4G network connections for mobile phones being examples of radio access networks. A radio access network is a technology that connects individual devices to other parts of a network through radio connections. It is a significant part of modern telecommunications, with 3G and 4G network connections for mobile phones being examples of radio access networks. Radio access networks can be considered the backbone of any modern telecommunications system. They allow users to easily connect to the Internet or other private networks, and they are an essential part of our daily lives whether we know it or not! You've got to hand it to the pioneers of wireless. They could see beyond the limitations of the telephone system, which had been around for decades. The idea of a handset or other item being wirelessly connected to a backbone or core network that transmits over the PSTN system or some other infrastructure was pioneered decades ago. It has repeatedly proven a powerful way to get data from points A to B. The radio access network receives the signal to and from the wireless end point so it can travel with other traffic over networks built with a collective and deliberate purpose. The radio access network (RAN) is a mobile network connecting users to the core network. It's often called the "last mile" because it allows us to communicate from far away and our connection back to the standard PSTN or the Internet platforms. The RAN generally consists of base stations connected by base station controllers (BSCs) and serves as gateways between mobile devices and core networks. Some types of RAN include GERAN and GRAN, which utilize BSCs and base transmission stations to manage radio links for both. Circuit-switched and packet-switched core networks and UTRAN and E-UTRAN often connect endpoints to the standard PSTN or the Internet platforms.
Related Terms by Networking Solutions
Join Our Newsletter
Get weekly news, engaging articles, and career tips-all free!
By subscribing to our newsletter, you're cool with our terms and conditions and agree to our Privacy Policy.