A method for wireless communication at a radio unit (215; 1605; 1705; 1905) of a wireless communications system, comprising: identifying (2005; 2105), at power-on or reset of the radio unit, configuration information that includes a first set of functions to be performed at the radio unit, wherein the radio unit has a capability to perform radio frequency functions and at least some baseband functions, and the first set of functions includes at least the radio frequency functions; configuring (2010; 2110) the first set of functions at the radio unit based at least in part on the identifying, wherein the first set of functions includes a first set of downlink functions and a first set of uplink functions; receiving (2015; 2115), from a distributed unit that performs a second set of functions, downlink signals (310; 410; 510; 610; 710; 825; 925; 1045; 1140) that are to be processed according to the first set of downlink functions; processing (2020; 2120) the downlink signals according to the first set of downlink functions to generate a downlink communication; transmitting (2025; 2125) the downlink communication (315; 415; 515; 615; 715) to at least one user equipment, UE; receiving radio frequency signals (320; 420; 520; 620; 720) from the UE in a set of wireless resources associated with an uplink allocation granted to the UE for an uplink communication; processing the received radio frequency signals according to the first set of uplink functions to generate processed uplink signals; and providing the processed uplink signals (325; 425; 525; 625; 725; 825; 925; 1045; 1140) to the distributed unit to be processed according to the second set of functions. identifying (2005; 2105), at power-on or reset of the radio unit, configuration information that includes a first set of functions to be performed at the radio unit, wherein the radio unit has a capability to perform radio frequency functions and at least some baseband functions, and the first set of functions includes at least the radio frequency functions; configuring (2010; 2110) the first set of functions at the radio unit based at least in part on the identifying, wherein the first set of functions includes a first set of downlink functions and a first set of uplink functions; receiving (2015; 2115), from a distributed unit that performs a second set of functions, downlink signals (310; 410; 510; 610; 710; 825; 925; 1045; 1140) that are to be processed according to the first set of downlink functions; processing (2020; 2120) the downlink signals according to the first set of downlink functions to generate a downlink communication; transmitting (2025; 2125) the downlink communication (315; 415; 515; 615; 715) to at least one user equipment, UE; receiving radio frequency signals (320; 420; 520; 620; 720) from the UE in a set of wireless resources associated with an uplink allocation granted to the UE for an uplink communication; processing the received radio frequency signals according to the first set of uplink functions to generate processed uplink signals; and providing the processed uplink signals (325; 425; 525; 625; 725; 825; 925; 1045; 1140) to the distributed unit to be processed according to the second set of functions.