Millimeter wave (mmWave) communication is being seen as a disruptive technology for 5G era. In particular, 60GHz frequency band has emerged as a promising candidate for multi-Gbps connectivity in indoor and hotspot areas. In terms of network architecture, cloud radio access network (CRAN) has emerged as the most promising architectural alternative to enable efficient baseband processing and dynamic resource allocation in 5G communications. In this article, we propose micro-CRAN (mCRAN) -a multi-gigabit indoor network architecture which leverages availability of high bandwidth in 60GHz frequency band. We have discussed in detail about the requirements and research challenges for various system modules for mCRAN based network architecture. We have also investigated the feasibility of IEEE 802.11ad MAC protocol for the proposed mCRAN architecture. We discuss the challenges related to 60GHz beamforming, medium access mechanisms and network architecture, and propose solutions to address them.

Communication at mmWave frequencies has been the focus in the recent years. In this paper, we discuss standardization efforts in 60 GHz short range communication and the progress therein. We compare the available standards in terms of network architecture, medium access control mechanisms, physical layer techniques and several other features. Comparative analysis indicates that IEEE 802.11ad is likely to lead the short-range indoor communication at 60 GHz. We bring to the fore resolved and unresolved issues pertaining to robust WLAN connectivity at 60 GHz. Further, we discuss the role of mmWave bands in 5G communication scenarios and highlight the further efforts required in terms of research and standardization.