A radio access network (RAN) connects individual devices to other parts of a network through radio connections. It is a major component of modern telecommunications with different generations of mobile networking evolving from 1G through 5G.
The RAN includes a base station and antennas that cover a specific region according to its capacity, design and propagation. Some types of radio access networks include:
- GRAN (GSM radio access network)
- GERAN (specifies the inclusion of EDGE packet radio services)
- UTRAN (universal mobile telephone system RAN)
- E-UTRAN (evolved universal terrestrial RAN)
