An end-to-end 5G network comprises heterogeneous types of technologies, from new radio such as Massive MIMO and millimetre wave, to high speed optical network and advanced computing platforms, such as mobile edge computing (MEC). Furthermore, most of the 5G network functions are virtualized as a software entity that requires a low latency computing platform, often at the edge of the network.    

Availability of high-performance programmable and flexible hardware enables offloading network functions to the hardware and accelerates them. FPGAs (programmable hardware devices) are receiving increasing attention as a preferred programmable platform because of low cost and high performance. Unlike the software that executes in sequential order, FPGAs execute concurrently and hence support high data rate and lower latency. A '5G in a BOX' node utilises FPGA platforms and high-performance commodity computing servers to offer a generic and programmable platform for deployment at the edges of a 5G network. It accelerates execution of 5G network functions and also provides a point of convergence for heterogeneous wireless and optical transports as well as computing platforms.