One embodiment is directed to a baseband controller for use with a plurality of radio points to provide wireless service to user equipment (UE) using a wireless interface. The baseband controller makes use of a hybrid virtualized architecture comprising special-purpose hardware configured to implement at least some of the LAYER-1 functions for the wireless interface and a virtual platform configured to implement some of the functions for the wireless interface. Such a baseband controller can be used in dual connectivity radio access networks.