Optimizing the Energy Efficiency Using Quantum Based Load Balancing in Open Radio Access Networks

Abstract

The open radio access network (ORAN) aims to improve network efficiency by reducing latency through the distributed unit (DU) and virtualization in the central unit (CU). However, the deployment of additional DU servers increases power usage and competition among virtual machines for user data processing. This study proposes a novel approach to address these challenges by incorporating load balancing strategies and quantum physics concepts, particularly entanglement theory in classical communication systems. The methodology enables the production of quantum information units from a single classical information unit, aiming to conserve energy. A simplified yet effective power consumption (PC) model for the ORAN architecture captures traffic fluctuations and provides a comprehensive characterization of power usage within a virtualized system. An optimization problem is formulated to select ORAN servers for quantum load balancing that are less energy-efficient, maximizing user benefits. The Lagrange multiplier method is used to deal with nonlinear objective functions. The presented problem is addressed through the use of two numerical methods, namely sequential quadratic programming (SQP) and the active-set approach. It is shown that the SQP model exhibits superior energy efficiency compared to the active-set model, with a difference of approximately 45%.