Inherent in Open RAN is support for existing radio access networks in addition to 5G Nonstandalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) networks. At its simplest, the concept is for a more open radio access network architecture than provided today. Meet our experts behind the scenes, sharing their views and insights on technology development. A1, as described above, is the interface between non-RT RIC and modular CU which contains near-RT RIC. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. In addition, the O-RAN Alliance is defining new interfaces not currently being specified by 3GPP. Open RAN also supports 5G network slicing for specific use cases, enabling mobile operators to create multiple virtual networks from a single shared infrastructure to support specific use cases. Ericsson believes that Non-RT RIC will bring the most value to the industry by enabling new services and improving user performance. The key concept of Open RAN is “opening” the protocols and interfaces between the various subcomponents (radios, hardware and software) in the RAN. The alliance inherited the activities of the previous xRAN and C-RAN forums. Baker described vRAN as just one application within a broader open RAN architecture. To this end, the O-RAN Alliance is paying considerable attention to attracting industry players as partners. O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) Reference Architecture, 5G System Connection Management: CM-Idle and CM-Connected, NB-IOT Synchronization Signals (NPSS and NSSS), Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Architecture, 5G NR Antenna Port – Logical and Physical Antenna Mapping, Motivation Behind Having Multiple Numerology in 5G NR, 5G – What Makes It Different & How Does It Impact Your Business. Non-RT control functionality (> 1s) and near-Real Time (near-RT) control functions(<1s) are decoupled in the RIC. The term O-RAN refers to interfaces and architecture elements as specified by the O-RAN alliance. The key concept of Open RAN is “opening” the protocols and interfaces between the various subcomponents (radios, hardware and software) in the RAN. handovers, Multi-RAT CU function shall be deployed on virtualization platform, This virtualization provides a highly-efficient execution environment for CU and near-RT RIC, with the ability to distribute capacity across multiple network elements with security isolation, virtual resource allocation, accelerator resource encapsulation, etc. The O-RAN Alliance is a relatively new organization that took the 3GPP standards work as its baseline and set out to create extensions specifically for the RAN. Network management applications in non-RT RIC receives and act on highly reliable data from the modular Control Unit (CU) and Distributed Unit (DU) in a standardized format over A1 Interface. Open RAN architectures are to deployed as part of five projects announced last week that are focused on how 5G can benefit UK businesses. Ericsson believes in the value of openness in mobile networks. Join us as we open the doors to everything that is about to change the way networks are designed, built and managed. The new open RAN architecture – that is software-defined, unbundled, programmable, and flexible – can support mobile operators’ latency requirements. Mobile operators will be able to support RAN aware over-the-air firmware upgrades, while saving on firmware transport costs and enabling policy enforcement. You seem to be using an old web browser. This resides within the RIC Near RT function layer. Open RAN presents both opportunities and challenges for the mobile industry. AI-enabled policies and ML-based models generated messages in RIC non-RT and conveyed to RIC near-RT. If you’ve been following any carrier and OEM news, chances are good you saw that the carriers would like an open RAN system, O-RAN. E2 is a standard interface between the near-RT RIC and CU/DU in the context of an O-RAN architecture. RAN applications as cloud-native functions, Use external Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities. An Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) is a totally disaggregated approach to deploying mobile fronthaul and midhaul networks built entirely on cloud native principles. The architecture is based on standards defined by O-RAN ALLIANCE, which are fully supporting and complimentary to standards promoted by 3GPP and other industry standards organizations. In a distributed RAN, the RRH and … The ambition for Open RAN is to create a multi-supplier RAN solution that allows for the separation - or disaggregation - between hardware and software with open interfaces and virtualisation, hosting software that controls and updates networks in the cloud. The O-RAN Alliance started in June 2018 and has rapidly gained momentum. We’re soon going to see base stations with their own app stores. Beginners: Open RAN, White Box RAN & vRAN 1. Current RAN technology is provided as a hardware and software integrated platform. The Radio Access Network (RAN) provides the critical technology to connect users, including mobile phones or enterprises, to the mobile network over radio waves. In this short video, we share an introduction to the concept of Open RAN and how it works in mobile network architecture.Want to learn more about Open RAN? The O-RAN Alliance (O-RAN) is a group that is defining specifications for radio access networks. Non-RT functions include service and policy management, RAN analytics and model-training for the near-RT RAN functionality. The O-RAN Reference Architecture is designed to enable next generation RAN infrastructures. The architecture is based on well-defined, standardized interfaces to enable an open, inter-operable supply chain ecosystem in full support of and complimentary to standards promoted by 3GPP and other industry standards organizations. Let’s have a refresher course. It provides new functions leveraging embedded intelligence,such as QoS management, connectivity management and seamless handover control. The O-RAN reference architecture provides next generation RRM with embedded intelligence,while optionally accommodating legacy RRM. It also acts as a bridge to access all the key applications on the web. The function of the Multi-RAT protocol stack supports 4G, 5G and other protocol processing. Source: STL Partners. As many 5G experiences require low latency, 5G specifications like Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS), functional RAN splits, and network slicing require advanced RAN … Ericsson also plays an active role in shaping specifications as part of the O-RAN Alliance, learning the capabilities and limitations of new network technologies and testing them together with communication service provider customers and partners. OpenRAN is software-defined, making disaggregation of hardware and software possible making even legacy networks cloud-native As a result of the open nature of the solution, interoperability is therefore a reality that enables vendor diversity and reduces CAPEX Figure 3: Virtual RAN (vRAN) architecture. Trained models and real-time control functions produced in the RIC non-RT are distributed to the RIC near-RT for runtime execution. Click on the player above to get our take on Open RAN. The goals are to provide detailed blueprints for how to build the RAN solution enabling parts from different vendors, including mechanisms for enabling artificial intelligence and machine learning for more efficient network management and orchestration. The O-RAN Alliance went back to the controller concept to enable best-of-breed Open RAN. benefits, The current architecture is using existing interface definitions for F1/E1/X2/Xn provided by 3GPP, This interfaces can be enhanced to support inter operation among multi-vendors and the CU provided by TEMs offer a regional CP and UP anchor for DUs, The DU and RRU function includes real-time L2 functions, base band processing and radio frequency processing, The interface between the DU and the RRU provides standard function segmentation, including the DU-RRU lower layer split interface (Open front-haul Interface), and the CU-DU higher layer split interface (F1), which ensures inter-operability between different TEMs. But what makes any split architecture open and suited for Open RAN? This presentation and video looks at the concept of #OpenRAN, White Box RAN and Virtualized RAN (vRAN). Whether it’s native 5G RAN, virtual RAN or Open RAN, it is crucial that policymakers ensure that the merits of technical performance and the competitiveness of different solutions and architectures decide market outcomes. Some Facts About Open RAN •Open RAN does not mean Open Source •Open RAN does not apply to 4G & 5G only, but also to legacy 2G & 3G as well •Open RAN vendors do not necessarily have to be part of some group. For the past 40 years, Ericsson has supported the evolution of openness and interoperability in mobile telecoms. RIC near-RT functions leverages a database called the Radio-Network Information Base (R-NIB) which captures the near real-time state of the underlying network, It feeds various RAN measurements data, to the near-RT RIC to facilitate radio resource management. The base station of the future, it will look like an iPhone. We pro-pose OpenRAN, an architecture for software-defined RAN via virtualization. For example, autonomous vehicles will benefit from Open RAN architectures that are deployed at the network edge. The UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced an investment package for a total of nine 5G projects, with government funding comprising part of the overall budgets of each project. It is designed with the principles of intelligence and openness, the O-RAN architecture is the foundation for building the virtualized RAN on open hardware, with embedded AI-powered radio control, that has been envisioned by operators around the globe. LoRa (Long Range) End Device Classifications. © HEAVY READING | SEPTEMBER 2017 | EVOLVING TO AN OPEN C-RAN ARCHITECTURE FOR 5G 4 C-RAN IMPLICATIONS FOR FRONTHAUL TRANSPORT A C-RAN architecture consist of three main components: the baseband unit pool (BBU), the remote radio head (RRH), and the transport network connecting the RRH and the BBU, called the fronthaul network. It provides open, con-trollable, flexible and evolvable wireless networks. There are many parts of the world where all of these various technology generations must be supported; Open RAN actually … The promised benefits include supply chain diversity, solution flexibility, and new capabilities leading to increased competition and further innovation. It achieves complete virtualization and programmability vertically, and benefits the convergence of heterogeneous network horizontally. To experience www.ericsson.com in the best way, please upgrade to another browser e.g., Edge Chromium, Google Chrome or Firefox. Open RAN aims to create easier interoperability on existing 3GPP RAN interfaces. Many different claims have been made as to the potential of Open RAN to improve competition, network flexibility and cost. Open RAN ecosystem enables enormous flexibility and interoperability with a complete openess to multi-vendor deployments. Open RAN architecture is designed for building virtualized RAN with AI powered control, which is the key to tame the 5G complexity. Open RAN is made possible through standardized open network interfaces, defined in 3GPP, O-RAN Alliance, IEEE, and other SDOs and industry fora. The RIC near-RT is completely compatible with legacy RRM and its design is started to enhancing the operational challenging functions such as per-UE controlled load-balancing, RB management, interference detection and mitigation. For example in [55] an architecture for software-defined RAN via virtualization called Open-RAN is presented, while in [7] the CROWD solution is presented for SDN control in DenseNets. Starting with 2G wireless networks, radio access network (RAN) architectures were based on monolithic building blocks. Open RAN is not a technology, but rather an ongoing shift in mobile network architecture that allows networks to be built using subcomponents from a variety of vendors. Let’s look at what O-RAN is and what it will mean to different groups in the industry. The basic functions of the protocol stack are implemented according to the control commands issued by the near-RT RIC module e.g. Traditional Mobile Network Architecture ©3G4G BSC BTS MSC Voice (PSTN) Network SGSN Data (IP) Network RNC Node BeNodeB MME GGSN Access Network Core Network Air Interface MSUEUE BSSRNS S-GW P-GW 2G 2.5G 3G 4G EPCHardware + Software Hardware + Software It can influence the RAN behavior, enabling a wide variety of new use cases and new capabilities missing from current mobile networks. O-RAN reference Architecture is shown in below picture, Orchestration/NMS layer with Non Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller. Moving from 4G to 5G, new technologies aim to unlock tremendous opportunities for end users. Open-RAN – note the hyphenation – involves replacing the vendor-proprietary interfaces between the BBU and the RRU with open standards. A cloud-native compute solution adding versatility to a service provider’s purpose-built 5G network. RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) near-Real Time function layer. Open radio access networks offer the option of placing network functions in different places along the signal path. Open RAN is a hot topic in mobile telecoms. The core algorithm of non-RT RIC is owned and deployed by network operators, This algorithms provides the capability to modify the RAN behaviors based by deployment of different models optimized to individual operator policies and optimization objectives. To cater to all the diverse 5G use cases and operator’s deployment constraints, the standards define multiple NG-RAN architecture options and the associated open network interfaces. It is a global alliance founded in 2018 and it is now comprised of close to 30 operators and more than 200 vendor companies. We believe that innovations like Cloud RAN can be a bridging technology to greater openness by bringing some of the benefits of cloud-scale economic in RAN and deployment flexibility. Many different claims have been made as to the potential of Open RAN to improve competition, network flexibility and cost. That option, called a functional split, lets network engineers optimize performance and make tradeoffs. Proponents of virtualized RAN promise a wide range of benefits to operators, among them improved performance, reduced Capex and lower latency. It also provides initiate configuration commands to CU/DU. O-RAN specification defined an A1 interface between Orchestration/NMS layer with RIC non-RT and eNB/gNB containing RIC near-RT. The 3GPP specifications are the global standards for 8 billion mobile devices when it comes to seamless calling and connectivity over networks anywhere in the world. At its simplest, the concept is for a more open radio access network architecture than provided today. The open architecture of O-RAN is designed to give as much freedom as possible to designers in order to encourage innovation in the industry. Open RAN, White Box RAN & vRAN @3g4gUK 2. A technology leader with R&D in standards, patents and interoperability, Ericsson was one of the driving forces of 3GPP. Open-RAN (Radio Access Network) is an ongoing shift in the mobile network architecture, consisting of networks to be built using subcomponents from multiple vendors. The O-RAN Reference Architecture is designed to enable next generation RAN infrastructures. O-RAN architecture integrates a modular base station software stack on off-the-shelf hardware which allows baseband and radio unit components from discrete suppliers to operate seamlessly together. The near-RT RIC can be provided by traditional TEMs or 3rd-party players, RIC near-RT receives an AI model from RIC non-RT and execute it to change the functional behavior of the network. Empowered by principles of intelligence and openness, the O-RAN architecture is the foundation for building the virtualized RAN on open hardware and cloud, with embedded AI-powered radio control. OPEN RAN Open RAN is not a technology, but rather an ongoing shift in mobile network architecture that allows networks to be built using subcomponents from a variety of vendors. As an active participant in the O-RAN Alliance, we work together with communication service providers and mobile network suppliers to create the right foundations for openness, innovation and flexibility in radio access networks. O-RAN is an evolution of the Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN) architecture, first introduced by the GSMA’s 3GPP in their release 15 (5G version 1) technical specification TS 38.401. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month. is “Virtualized Software” ⎯running on ⎯ “Open Interface Hardware” Anything Else is Considered Proprietary dio access network (RAN) is closed and ossified. O-RAN underscores streamlined 5G RAN performance objectives through the common attributes of efficiency, intelligence and versatility. It is designed with the principles of intelligence and openness, the O-RAN architecture is the foundation for building the virtualized RAN on open hardware, with embedded AI-powered radio control, that has been envisioned by operators around the globe. Open RAN is a hot topic in mobile telecoms. “With vRAN as an application, you can run other applications side by side. The following graphic shows the 4G RAN and core network as compared to the 5G RAN and core. Open RAN architecture differs substantially by geography and use case, with compute platforms, radios, control software and integration partners varying widely. A mobile operator can deploy a fully compliant functional split architecture, but unless the interfaces between RU, DU and CU are open, the RAN itself will not be open - see a diagram below that shows current industry thinking. What is PAPR (Peak to average power ratio), Why it matters to Power Amplifier ? In fact, there is an O-RAN alliance. OpenRAN’s mission is to accelerate innovation and commercialization in RAN domain with multi-vendor interoperable products and solutions that are easy to integrate in the operator’s network and are verified for different … Ericsson, as a world leading supplier of patents and equipment for 5G networks, has been involved in the early stage developments of this technology. First off,… Project Group is an initiative to define and build 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G RAN solutions based on general-purpose vendor-neutral hardware, open interfaces and software. Open RAN Policy Coalition represents a group of companies formed to promote policies that will advance the adoption of open and interoperable solutions in the Radio Access Network (RAN). Modern Slavery Statement | Privacy | Legal | Cookies | © Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson 1994-2021, © Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson 1994-2021, Sustainability and corporate responsibility, Driving openness for ecosystem innovation, The innovation potential of Non-Realtime RAN Intelligent Controller, Mobile radio access networks: What policy makers need to know. Open RAN network architecture is needed to address the specific needs of different mobile operators around the world and it is expected that vendors will interoperate to create customized Open RAN solutions to meet these requirements. 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