Data transfer interface for in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) data

A system for a radio access network (RAN), comprising:

• a radio unit (RU) configured to receive a first in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) signal represented in a first domain from a distributed unit (DU);
• a beamformer associated with the RU, the beamformer configured to:
• receive the first I/Q signal represented in the first domain, and
• transmit a plurality of second I/Q signals represented in the first domain based on the first I/Q signal represented in the first domain, the plurality of second I/Q signals represented in the first domain including a #1 second I/Q signal represented in the first domain and a #2 second I/Q signal represented in the first domain,
• a plurality of transceivers associated with the TU, the plurality of transceivers including a first transceiver and a second transceiver,
• wherein the first transceiver is configured to:
• receive the #1 second I/Q signal represented in the first domain, and
• convert the #1 second I/Q data represented in the first domain to a #1 second I/Q data represented in a second domain, and
• wherein the second transceiver is configured to:
• receive the #2 second I/Q signal represented in the first domain, and
• convert the #2 second I/Q data represented in the first domain to a #2 second I/Q data represented in the second domain,
• a first front end module (FEM) configured to generate a first output signal based on the #1 second I/Q data represented in the second domain,
• a second FEM configured to generate a second output signal based on #2 second I/Q data represented in the second domain, and
• a delay estimator configured to:
• compare the first output and the second output, and
• determine a time delay between the first output and the second output.