Why is latency a critical factor in Cloud RAN systems?

Latency is a critical factor in Cloud RAN systems primarily because high latency can severely disrupt real-time data transmission and communication quality. In the context of telecommunications and network services, latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination. In Cloud RAN systems, which rely heavily on real-time communication for various applications such as voice calls, video streaming, and gaming, a delay in data transmission can lead to noticeable lag, dropped calls, reduced quality of service, and overall degradation of user experience.

Real-time applications require timely data delivery; therefore, maintaining low latency is essential to ensure smooth interactions and higher customer satisfaction. If latency is too high, it hampers the effectiveness of these critical services, leading to frustration for users and possibly a loss of business for service providers. Keeping latency minimal helps ensure that communications are synchronized and that the quality of services offered through the RAN is maintained at a high standard, making it a crucial consideration in the design and management of Cloud RAN systems.