Profit Maximization under Investment Budget and Optical Link Constraints in Open RAN

Paper in proceeding, 2026

The rapid evolution of wireless communication systems has led to the development of 5G networks, which offer several advantages such as higher throughput, lower latency, and higher reliability compared to the previous generation. However, the deployment of 5G networks in developing countries is significantly slowed down due to high deployment costs. In this paper, we propose a framework formulated as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) that considers a green-field scenario, assuming no pre-existing network infrastructure, and provides a minimumcost solution for deploying Open Radio Access Network (RAN) components, including Distributed Unit (DU) logical functions, Central Units (CUs), and capacity-constrained optical transport links. The proposed model enables operators to gradually deploy their network according to their available budget. Depending on the allocated budget, operators can obtain the resulting network infrastructure and the corresponding estimated profit. In addition, the framework allows the analysis of user admission as a function of both the investment budget and the available capacity of the optical transport links. The proposed framework is designed as a network planning tool that supports operators in the design and techno-Analysis of 5G networks. This approach is particularly beneficial for operators with limited financial resources.