Which component of Cloud RAN handles networking protocols?

The Central Unit is responsible for managing networking protocols within the Cloud RAN architecture. It plays a crucial role in processing the data and signals that come from the user equipment and facilitating efficient communication across the network.

The Central Unit utilizes various networking protocols to ensure that data transfer is seamless, scalable, and adaptable to the changing requirements of users and services. It effectively handles tasks related to routing, switching, and managing the network traffic between the distributed elements, which includes the Remote Radio Heads and Baseband Units. This control ensures that the overall network operates efficiently, meeting performance standards and maintaining Quality of Service (QoS) for end-users.

In this context, the other components mentioned serve different specific functions within the Cloud RAN system, but they do not primarily deal with networking protocols. For instance, Remote Radio Heads are responsible for radio transmission and reception, while Radio Frequency Amplifiers amplify signals. Baseband Units manage the baseband processing of signals but are also not focused on the networking protocols themselves. This clear division of responsibilities illustrates why the Central Unit is correctly identified as the component that handles networking protocols in a Cloud RAN system.