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. 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 supports 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.