The combination of Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) and cloud-based radio access network (C-RAN) is a candidate approach for the next generation of mobile networks. In this paper, the novel concept of virtual radio resources, which completes the virtual RAN paradigm, is proposed. The key idea is to aggregate (and manage) all the physical radio resources, to create virtual wireless links, and to offer Capacity-as-a-Service. Due to the isolation among instances, network element abstraction, and a multi-radio access techniques (RAT) structure, the virtualisation approach leads to relatively more efficient and flexible RANs than former ones. Virtual network operators (VNOs) ask for wireless connectivity in the form of capacity per service, hence, not dealing with physical radio resources at all. A model for the management of virtual radio resources is proposed, which can even support the shortage of resources. A practical heterogeneous cellular network is considered as a case study, and results are presented, showing how the virtual radio resource management allocates capacity to services of different VNOs, with different service-level agreements (SLAs) and priority when the overall network capacity reduces down to 45% of the initial one. Keywords Virtualisation of radio resources Virtual radio resource management Radio access networks Network Function Virtualisation
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