OpenRAN

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 deployment scenarios. TIP’s OpenRAN program supports the development of disaggregated and interoperable 2G/3G/4G/5G NR Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions based on service provider requirements.

Key OpenRAN tenets include:

1. Disaggregation of RAN HW & SW on vendor neutral, GPP-based platforms
2. Open Interfaces – Implementations using open interface specifications between components (e.g. RU/CU/DU/RIC) with vendor neutral hardware and software.
3. Multiple Architecture Options, including
   1. An all integrated RAN with disaggregation at SW and HW level
   2. A split RAN with RU, BBU (DU/CU)
   3. A split RAN with RU, DU and CU
   4. A split RAN with integrated RU/DU, CU
4. Flexibility – Multi vendor solutions enabling a diverse ecosystem for the operators to choose best-of-breed options for their 2G/3G/4G and 5G deployments
5. Solutions implemented on either Bare Metal or Virtualized or Containerized Platforms
6. Innovation via Adoption of New Technologies (AI/ML, CI/CD…)
7. Supply Chain Diversity

Northstar for OpenRAN is to drive abundant last mile wireless connectivity. OpenRAN plans to achieve this through developing a vibrant ecosystem that is:

1. Rapidly innovating at every layer, every component of the RAN technology stack, and
2. Continually improving the performance of RAN through innovation, automation and competition

TIP OpenRAN Liaisons

TIP OpenRAN seeks strong partnerships across the industry with organizations having a similar vision and working to accelerate disaggregation and innovation in RAN technologies . The goal is to bring the ecosystem together to take a holistic approach towards building next-generation RAN. TIP OpenRAN will continue to collaborate with other industry organizations, including GSMA, ONF , and O-RAN ALLIANCE, through established liaison agreements.

Deliverables

The items referenced below are official contributions made to TIP from TIP Members.

OpenRAN Technical Requirements

This document describes the technical specification for an OpenRAN device that operators can deploy in current and future generations of mobile transport networks. It describes the requisite hardware, software, and regulatory requirements a device needs to meet to be deployed in networks of those operators participating in this specification.

Download Report (Available to OpenRAN TIP Members Only)

Toward OpenRAN CI/CD Automation

The document describes MNO pain points in today’s network lifecycle management, along with new opportunities brought by OpenRAN architecture. Then it presents Telefónica’s perspective, followed by a description of the platform developed in the TIP OpenRAN CI/CD project, supported use cases, overall architecture, and a typical workflow for integration and testing. The document concludes with a call for action.

Download whitepaper

TIP Test Bed Trial

Edotco and TIP were looking at ways to help MNO’s expedite their network coverage/rollout and do it based on current technology. The goal was something that was scalable and upgradable network with a long term OPEX model. This was successfully done in both a lab and field trial setting. Download the report for more details.

Download report

5G New Radio: Revenue and Deployment Opportunities

Telecommunications operators face a dilemma with the 5G business case: the deployment of 5G requires significant capital investment and the rate of return is not as straightforward despite the potential of 5G technology. RAN, the largest cost in wireless network architecture, is pushing operators to rethink their current deployment paradigms. Responding to this challenge, Telecom Infra Project (TIP) has created an ecosystem that is founded upon collectively designing and building new technologies to accelerate innovation.

Download report

OpenRAN 5G NR requirements document

This document describes the technical specifications for a 5G NR base station that operators can deploy in their mobile networks to provide 5G NR connectivity. The document describes the necessary requirements for deployment by participating operators.

Download this document

OpenRAN: The next generation of radio access networks

Current Radio access networks (RAN) require significant upgrades to keep up with increasing data demand. Operators will be compelled to evaluate new RAN technology from various technology providers. The OpenRAN project group was created to focus on developing a vendor-neutral hardware and software-defined technology based on open interfaces and community-developed standards. Unlike traditional RAN, OpenRAN decouples hardware and software. This gives operators more flexibility to deploy and upgrade their network architecture in various deployment scenarios and geographies.

Download report

TIP OpenRAN: Toward Disaggregated Mobile Networking

As operators enter the 5G-era, the RAN is increasingly software-driven and based on open implementation and open interfaces. This white paper profiles the work of the OpenRAN Project Group, covering the following topics:

• The key achievements of the project group and the next phases of OpenRAN development
• How OpenRAN helps operators and the wider ecosystem progress their goals for low-cost, high-performance mobile connectivity.
• Open interfaces in the RAN
• TIP’s recently announced liaison agreement with the O-RAN Alliance with regard to open interfaces in the RAN

Download Whitepaper

OpenRAN Turkey Trials Playbook

This playbook is developed by teams from Vodafone and Parallel Wireless to capture the learnings from this trial deployment where brownfield sites in Turkey were swapped with OpenRAN solutions for 2G/3G/4G, evaluating the technical and operational KPIs in the process.

The playbook helps the OpenRAN community members, RAN solution providers, network operators, and system integrators take an informed approach to the selection of technology and the planning of OpenRAN deployments.

Download the playbook

Telefónica views on the design, architecture, and technology of 4G/5G Open RAN networks

This paper provides an overview of the main technology elements that Telefónica is developing in collaboration with selected partners in the Open RAN ecosystem. It describes the architectural elements, design criteria, technology choices and key chipsets employed to build a complete portfolio of radio units and baseband equipment capable of a full 4G/5G RAN rollout in any market of interest.

Download the playbook

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