While the above described schemes that are currently available, provides better flexibility compared to hardware proprietary purpose-built e-NodeBs, the embedding of backhaul protocol stacks inside vBBUs prevents flexible mapping between radio and backhaul resources and backhaul resources to truly scale independent of radio protocol stacks (i.e., the number of backhaul protocol stacks scales with the number of vBBUs). In other words, the current design of vBBUs does not allow customized VNFs to be added inside eNBs, especially between the radio and backhaul protocol stacks.

In one example embodiment, a distributed platform includes at least one node for performing baseband processing of signals, the at least one node including a memory and a processor. The memory has computer-readable instructions stored therein. The processor is configured to the execute computer-readable instructions to enable independent operations of a plurality of radio protocol stacks and a plurality of backhaul protocol stacks for performing the base band processing functions of a plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of base stations being configured to serve one or more user devices. The processor is further configured to manage data packet flows between the plurality of radio protocol stacks and the plurality of backhaul protocol stacks.