Empowered by 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. The O-RAN Reference Architecture is designed to enable next generation RAN infrastructures. Open interfaces are essential to enable smaller vendors and operators to introduce their own services, or customize the network to suit their own unique needs. The ORAN Alliance will drive the next generation RAN to new levels of openness, efficiency, flexibility, and intelligence using reference designs, open interfaces, virtualization, open source and whitebox elements by leading the industry towards open, inter-operable interfaces and RAN virtualization.This will empower future networks with deeply imbedded intelligence, much higher efficiency, lower costs, great agility and flexibility, and zero-touch automation.The ORAN Alliance welcomes broad membership and active contribution from all interested parties across the information, communications, and data technology industries.VisiT O-RAN Virtual Exhibition to see demonstrations of real O-RAN based technology bringing OPen and Intelligent solutions to the RAN. Future RANs will be built on a foundation of virtualized network elements, white-box hardware and standardized interfaces that fully embrace O-RAN’s core principles of intelligence and openness. Depending on the standard, mobile phones and other wireless connected devices are varyingly known as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment, mobile station (MS), etc. This nomenclature is descriptive of the OSI layer (i.e.
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. As such, solutions may be specific to each O-RAN CNF but leverage standard techniques such as DPDK and FD.io or employ more advanced techniques, such as the Metaswitch 2. Conforming to modern control user plane separation (CUPS) constructs, the Central Unit can be further decoupled into distinct control plane (CU-CP) and user plane (CU-UP) functions.
Open interfaces are described as either lower-layer splits (LLS), in the case of the RU to DU connection, or higher-layer splits (HLS) as with the link between the DU and CU. Source: The O-RAN Reference Architecture is designed to enable next generation RAN infrastructures. The ORAN Alliance is a world-wide, carrier-led effort to drive new levels of openness in the radio access network of next generation wireless systems. The O-RAN ALLIANCE will strive to leverage emerging deep learning techniques to embed intelligence in every layer of the RAN architecture. L1/L2/L3) exposed by the interface and handled by the NG-RAN function. Ericsson AB, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, NEC Corporation and Nokia Embedded intelligence, applied at both component and network levels, enables dynamic local radio resource allocation and optimizes network-wide efficiency. Where components are instantiated will depend on the requirements of the service slice. Considering industry initiatives to open up the Radio Access Network (RAN), SDN and disaggregation – Exploring implementation of open interfaces and analytics to deliver new service opportunities - How do carriers manage disaggregated network elements? Comprising over 160TS 38.401 decomposed the existing Baseband Unit (BBU) into two functional components, a Distributed Unit (DU) and Central Unit (CU). An ecosystem of innovative new products is already emerging that will form the underpinnings of the multi-vendor, interoperable, autonomous RAN, envisioned by many in the past, but only now enabled by the global industry-wide vision, commitment and leadership of O-RAN ALLIANCE members and contributors.The O-RAN ALLIANCE was founded by operators to clearly define requirements and help build a supply chain eco-system to realize its objectives. Deploying O-RAN functions on x86 hardware in cloud native environments using lightweight (OS virtualization) containers demands a strong emphasis on data plane acceleration. The Open RAN Alliance (ORAN Alliance) was created to define the open and interoperable interfaces between RAN elements, allowing operators the flexibility to work with different vendors. The O-RAN Alliance formed to undertake the advancement of NG-RAN philosophies, expanding on the scope of what was originally outlined by the 3GPP.
The Open RAN Policy Coalition is a group of companies formed to promote policies that will advance the adoption of open and interoperable solutions in the Radio Access Network (RAN) as a means to create innovation, spur competition and expand the supply chain … The remaining TSC members are made up of the chairs and co-chairs of each technical workgroup. Current implementations do not allow for the DU to reduce this burden by offloading some of its functionality to the RU. Empowered by 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. Replacing the monolithic BBU with the CU/DU allows for new deployment models which feature centralized packet processing functions, while laying the groundwork for separating baseband functions from the (remote) radio unit (RRU/RU).This affords numerous technical and operational advantages, regardless of whether the RRU, DU and CU remain co-located within a 5GNodeB (gNB), like existing NodeB RRU/BBU implementations, or the CU is physically deployed to a more centralized location.
Open interfaces also enable multi-vendor deployments, enabling a more competitive and vibrant supplier ecosystem. O-RAN ALLIANCE members and contributors have committed to evolving radio access networks around the world. February 27, 2018 By Technologies.org Leave a Comment Today, AT&T, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, NTT DOCOMO, and Orange jointly announced the creation of the ORAN Alliance. This must be achieved at the application level, as these functions will not have access to the Kernel. 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.