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1、Barriers to Open RAN adoption-how can we overcome them?February 20252Contents03.About Digital Catapult05.About SONIC Labs07.About the Wireless Infrastructure Industry Group09.Introduction11.What is Open RAN and why does it matter?18.What are some of the barriers to Open RAN adoption and scaling?Tech

2、nical Complexity Maximising interoperability,readiness and MNO confidence Standards and specifications Security Private Networks and Open RAN28.How can we overcome these barriers?Technical Complexity Simplifying interoperability and highlighting collaboration Standards and Specifications Security44.

3、Conclusion With thanksAbout Digital Catapult4Digital Catapult is a deep tech innovation organisation driving business value by accelerating the practical application of advanced technologies.Partnering with government,industry and academia,we focus on significant challenges and opportunities facing

4、the UKs economy and society,where technology can play a major role in providing solutions.We break down barriers,de-risk innovation,open up markets and responsibly shape the products,services and experiences of the future.Digital Catapult is part of the Innovate UK Catapult Network.Catapults provide

5、 a unique combination of cutting-edge R&D facilities and world-class technical expertise to support UK business innovation.Visit www.digicatapult.org.uk for more information.About SONIC Labs6SONIC(SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre)Labs is a commercially-neutral,collaborative,environment

6、for testing interoperability and integration of open,disaggregated and software-centric network solutions and multi-vendor architectures.Part of the UKs national 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy,SONIC Labs is funded by the UK Governments Department for Science,Innovation and Technology(DSIT)

7、,and co-delivered by Digital Catapult and Ofcom.It has been designed to offer network vendors,operators and integration companies:A place for collaborative,peer-assisted,integration and interoperabilitytesting of products and solutions at a pre-commercial development stage,addressing the challenges

8、of multi-vendor end-to-end solutions.A technical platform.A commercially-neutral,multi-tenancy open networktestbed providing real-world indoor and outdoor scale environments,including test and measurement capabilities.A programme focused on helping vendors accelerate technologydevelopment and early-

9、stage integration work,with targeted innovationand acceleration activities.About the Wireless Infrastructure Industry Group8The Wireless Infrastructure Industry Group is part of the SONIC Labs strategic governance model.The objective of this group is to explore the requirements of real-world Open RA

10、N deployments through working with partners including but not limited to;wireless infrastructure providers,neutral host providers,and managed service providers(for example Mobile Network Operators,Communication Service Providers)to:Encourage growth and investment in the UK telecom sectorIdentify pat

11、hways for vendors productsEncouraging the development,integration,management,and operation of openand disaggregated multi-vendor networks,in both the hardware and softwaredomains,such as Open RANFacilitate widespread interoperability testing and collaborationShare insight and gather input on challen

12、ges and requirements for Open RAN tobe deployed and how these challenges can be overcomeThis group represents the network deployment ecosystem in the UK and is a potential adopter of Open RAN technologies for neutral hosts in building and private network deployments.Members of the group include:Intr

13、oduction10Digital connectivity is revolutionising peoples quality of life and is continuously changing to adapt to market needs.Along with 5G and 6G networks,Open Radio Access Networks(Open RAN)is one of the hot topics in the telecoms industry today.This report has been designed and created with the

14、 support of the SONIC Labs Wireless Infrastructure Industry Group,and through market insights and research,to provide an overview of the potential barriers to Open RAN adoption and proposals as to how to overcome them.To drive forward a more diverse,secure and resilient 5G supply chain and realise t

15、he potential of Open RAN technology,close collaboration is required across the telecoms industry and the UK Government to gain a better understanding of future networks.SONIC Labs is looking to help accelerate technology research and development of Open RAN through ecosystem engagement,vendor suppor

16、t(both technical and business development),integration work,interoperability testing,publicity,sharing lessons learned and successful activities,targeted innovation,and acceleration programmes to bring in new innovators,delivering on the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy,to create a more open

17、,competitive and diverse telecommunication supply market in the UK.What is Open RAN and why does it matter?12Open RAN is the disaggregation of the radio access network(RAN),enabling networks to be built using parts from different vendors.Network components are interconnected via interfaces that use

18、open,standards-based,protocols for communication.Previously,RAN had meant that mobile network operators were locked into using a single vendor across their entire network.Open RAN architecture enables operators to work with multiple hardware and software suppliers,increasing diversity and allowing n

19、ew market entrants and their products to be integrated into mobile networks.In an Open RAN environment,the RAN is disaggregated into three main areas:The Radio Unit(RU)The Distributed Unit(DU)The Centralised Unit(CU)The RU is where the radio frequency signals are transmitted,received,modulated/demod

20、ulated,amplified,and digitised.The RU is the hardware part of the Open RAN which is located near or integrated into the antenna,while the DU and CU are the software parts of the Open RAN.While the DU is requested to be not very far from the RU due to the latency requirements(frequently found using S

21、plits options such as 6 and 7.2),the CU can be located further from the RU and DU,nearer the Core.13Though not part of the Open RAN itself,the RAN Intelligence Controller(RIC)plays a crucial role in the automation and optimisation of the Open RAN.The RIC is an important part of the Open RAN disaggre

22、gation strategy,enabling multi-vendor interoperability,intelligence,agility,and programmability to radio access networks.As a software hosting platform,the RIC can run applications developed by third parties that automate and optimise RAN operations at scale.Figure 1.Open RAN Architecture BBURUO-RUO

23、-DUO-CUSINGLE VENDORMULTIPLE VENDORTraditional RANOpen RANCore NetworkCore NetworkFronthaulFronthaulMidhaulBackhaulBackhaul14So why does Open RAN matter?For future networks to thrive,the need for interoperability and diversification is imperative-something that Open RAN can provide to the wider tele

24、communications industry.Open RAN can also offer a greater choice and introduce new entrants in the telecoms supply chain.Expanding the Open RAN ecosystem,allows operators to avoid vendor lock-in and mix and match products and software in an open ecosystem,providing more flexibility,innovation and co

25、mpetition among vendors.Figure 2.RAN Intelligent Controller Architecture Open APIsOpen APIsOpen APIsNon-RT RIC FrameworkNear-RT RIC FrameworkAI/ML ModelsRAN ControlRAN AnalyticsRAN OptimisationrAppsxAppsO-RAN DISTRIBUTEDUNIT(O-DU)O-RAN CENTRALUNIT(O-CU)SERVICE MANAGEMENT AND ORCHESTRATION(SMO)NEAR-R

26、T RICRIC ArchitectureDirectives/ControlPolicies/GuidanceExternal Enrichment Data15Wireless Infrastructure EcosystemThe UK wireless industry plays a vital role in the deployment of Open RAN technologies and this ranges from early-stage adoption to the final stages of integration and deployment.The ch

27、art below provides a general overview of those involved in the wireless ecosystem and the Open RAN adoption and deployment journey.Note:This chart provides a general overview of the UK ecosystem via market research;not all companies are included.UK MNOsBT/EEVodafoneThreeVirginMedia/O2FreshwaveWWTCap

28、geminiTelentAWTGWind RiverWHP TelecomsParallel WirelessMavenirNECSamsungFujitsuRakutenCableFreeJet EngineeringAirspanAdtranNet AIAttocoreBlu WirelessBroadcomCiscoHCLToshibaHPESOLiDBoldyn NetworksFreshwaveWireless Infrastructure GroupCellnexWireless Infrastructure GroupCornerstoneMobile Broadband Net

29、work Limited(MBNL)OntixVantage TowersDense AirNation Rail GSM-RMotorola(Tetra)KCOMSystem IntegratorsVendorsNeutral HostsTelecom Infrastructure ProvidersAlternative Operators16Government CommitmentsGovernments worldwide including the UK Government have made it a key objective to accelerate innovation

30、,investment and productivity through world-class science,research and development.The Department for Science,Innovation and Technology has set out three priorities:010203Accelerate innovation,investment and productivity through world-class science,research and development.Use technology for good by

31、ensuring that new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK,with the benefits more widely shared.Drive forward a modern digital government which gives citizens a more satisfying experience and their time back.17The Open RAN Principles also published by DSIT,sets out t

32、he characteristics that open-interface solutions such as Open RAN,should possess to deliver on the UKs 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategys goals for resilient and secure networks with competitive and innovative supply chains.What are some of the barriers to Open RAN adoption and scaling?19Open

33、 RAN is a crucial enabler in the telecoms landscape,addressing several key challenges and unlocking the full potential of 5G networks.Whilst there are significant benefits to having interoperable and diverse networks,this technology is still developing-and there are still many challenges revolving a

34、round Open RAN adoption and unlocking its full potential.Technical ComplexityOpen RAN requires a high level of standardisation,interoperability,and testing to ensure the quality and reliability of the network.Specifically,multi-vendor deployments introduce the requirement to test the system for each

35、 vendor configuration and combination.The deployment of these systems is complex and often requires a great deal of system integration,and the necessary skills and expertise,potentially leading to longer deployment times.For MNOs,this context may be more challenging as it will need to consider legac

36、y technologies also present in the network.Another challenge with Open RAN is knowing how to solve network problems once it has been deployed.In a multi-vendor environment,identifying product-related issues could become more difficult compared to a traditional single-vendor network.Operators will ne

37、ed vendor-independent validation and troubleshooting to resolve any network problems.One of the biggest challenges from this is identifying who should take ownership and responsibility for the issues,particularly when multiple vendors are involved.“Open RAN requires a high level of standardisation,i

38、nteroperability,and testing to ensure the quality and reliability of the network”20For most MNOs,the Open RAN network needs to be integrated with existing provisioning systems and report systems at the Network Operation Center(NOC).This requires a deep understanding of these systems and the ability

39、to adapt Open RAN networks to work seamlessly with the existing umbrella platforms like Netcool.The Open RAN solution has to integrate into the NOC via protocols such as the Simple Network Management Protocol(SNMP),and The Network Configuration Protocol(NETCONF).This can be a complex and time-consum

40、ing process.Ultimately,MNOs must establish a functional framework where any RAN,whether open or not,can be smoothly incorporated into their networks and harmonised with their operational systems.Realising this will necessitate a significant departure from existing methodologies and a more adaptable

41、Operational Support System(OSS).Open RAN is set to exist alongside conventional RAN solutions for the foreseeable future,especially within domestic networks.The landscape is moving towards a mix of macro public networks,where the adoption of innovative Open RAN solutions is on the rise,being impleme

42、nted in conjunction with traditional RAN services and the existing network infrastructure.This brings about the intricacy of deploying two distinct technologies at a single site.The complexity of having multilayers of conventional and Open RAN technologies gives rise to challenges of traffic managem

43、ent and feature sets across the layers at the site as well as with adjacent sites on different technologies.21Maximising interoperability,readiness and MNO confidenceInteroperability Challenges The Open RAN ecosystem offers a seemingly limitless combination of vendors and RAN components,allowing ope

44、rators to mix and match solutions from various suppliers.While this provides flexibility and choice,it also creates interoperability challenges.Different vendors may implement their solutions differently,leading to compatibility issues and potential conflicts between components.Ensuring seamless int

45、eroperability becomes crucial for the success of Open RAN deployments.Integration Complexity Alongside interoperability challenges,integrating diverse RAN components becomes a complex task.The integration process involves combining hardware and software elements from multiple vendors,each with its s

46、pecifications,interfaces,and configurations.Achieving smooth integration and functionality across the entire network requires careful planning,rigorous testing,and well-defined interfaces to bridge the gaps between different components.Rigorous testing can be achieved through collaboration between d

47、ifferent entities and stakeholders of the ecosystem and through different badging and certification programs.One such badging and certification programme is enabled by O-RAN Alliance,through a number of Open Testing and Integration Centres across different regions.MNO ConfidenceMNOs run critical inf

48、rastructure which is depended on by many fragments of society,from the private consumer to the Home Office which utilises an Emergency Service Network.Taking this into account,MNOs by their critical nature have to be risk averse,which can present a challenge to new entrants in the Open RAN space.Bel

49、ow are two main considerations that need to be reflected on both by the supplier and the network operator community.220102To address the concern of the MNOs about product reliability and performance and also to reduce the testing efforts by the MNOs,badging and certification programmes can play a ke

50、y role.These badging and certification programmes can increase the MNO confidence,reduce the time to market,but also lower the upfront cost and minimise any unplanned complication during the deployment.To achieve this,MNOs and other private service providers need to collaborate closely with the stan

51、dards bodies,i.e.O-RAN Alliance,and different authorised Open Testing and Integration Centres(OTICs).Currently,there are 19 OTICs across different regions of the world.Supplier onboarding and procurement processes can be significant barriers for new entrants.Open RAN aims to diversify the supply cha

52、in,moving away from reliance on one or two vendors to an ecosystem with a wide range of hardware,software,and hybrid solutions.To support this,clear pathways for presenting capabilities must be established,ensuring that mobile network operators(MNOs)can choose the best solutions for their networks.I

53、n addition to procurement challenges,MNOs must consider supply chain factors such as product reliability,warranties,and the ability of startups to meet their obligations when providing products,services,and solutions.Ensuring that both individual providers and consortiums have the credibility to mee

54、t warranty requirements will be essential for successfully bringing products and solutions to market.Considerations MNO:How do we deal with such a vast array of potential suppliers from a procurement perspective?Solution Provider:How do we ensure our solutions have the credibility to be considered f

55、or deployment and how do we gain the trust of procurement?Considerations MNO:Can we share our warranty requirements openly?Solution Provider:How do we ensure compliance with MNO warranty requirements?23Standards and specificationsThere is a need for clarity on the design characteristics of Open RAN,

56、such as the adoption of standards and demonstration of interoperability between components.The success of Open RAN relies greatly on adherence to the standards and implementation by multiple vendors.Even when vendors implement open interfaces according to standards(3GPP and O-RAN),the interpretation

57、 of the new specifications or features may differ between vendors.Therefore,until the specifications become stable,verification through interoperability testing to connect different vendors and test each feature and product is important.As the Open RAN market is still in development,there are still

58、significant conversations around the technical approach required to achieve performance consistency with single-vendor solutions particularly as to whether different approaches are required in different environments(e.g.rural vs urban).This can sometimes cause tension with the desire to maximise the

59、 potential openness of the market,best exemplified in the debate around functional splits.O-RANs split-RAN concept is a way of designing and deploying radio access networks(RANs)that disaggregates the RAN into multiple functional components.These components can be deployed on different hardware and

60、software platforms and can be interconnected using open interfaces.There are a number of known ways to functionally split the RAN,each of which proposes a different way of dividing up the processing of the protocol stack across different hardware components.RAN Split Option 2The RAN split option 2 i

61、s a high-level CU and DU split which is primarily a separated control and user plane.This option can handle multiple flows to various access nodes to enable multi-connectivity scenarios.Because of the control and user split,deployment is mainly focused on non-real-time applications running in the CU

62、 when transport requirements like latency and bandwidth are relaxed.RAN Split Option 6The Small Cell nFAPI(network FAPI)interface in RAN functional split 6 enables the Open RAN ecosystem by allowing any small cell CU/DU to connect to any small cell radio unit.5G FAPI encourages competition and innov

63、ation among suppliers of small cell platform hardware,platform software,and application software by providing a common API.These interfaces will help network architects by letting them mix distributed and central units from different vendors.24RAN Split Option 7.2O-RAN introduces a specific architec

64、tural concept known as the PHY Layer Split 7.2x,which delineates the distribution of functional modules between low-PHY and high-PHY layers.This split is designed to optimize the processing workload between the Radio Unit(RU)and the Distributed Unit(O-DU)by allocating certain tasks to the most suita

65、ble component,particularly to enhance efficiency and performance in both uplink and downlink transmissions.Accelerator CardsThe Open RAN accelerator boosts,or“accelerates”performance at a vital point in the network:the Virtual Distributed Unit(vDU).The accelerator achieves this by taking up part of

66、the processing load from the costly servers.At present,the choice of accelerator architecture is limited to two components-inline or look-aside accelerators.Both types have their advantages and drawbacks,but depending on use cases and applications,operators may need to use both types of accelerators

67、.Different components from different vendors need to work together seamlessly.Current standards and specifications are also still evolving and need to be fully harmonised,which can create challenges for integration and deployment.Limitations for new vendorsOpen RAN inherently encourages a greater pr

68、oliferation of SMEs within the telecoms equipment supply chain,and it is important for transparency and successful adoption of Open RAN specifications that as many of these SMEs are involved in the standardisation process as possible.Engagement with standards organisations is,however,often a very co

69、mplex and resource-intense process,with a certain amount of obscurity to newcomers around which meetings they need to target and how they most effectively contribute,as well as the requirement for a significantly different skill set compared to that of a telecoms engineer.“Current standards and spec

70、ifications are also still evolving and need to be fully harmonised,which can create challenges for integration and deployment.”25SecurityAs Open RAN becomes more widely deployed,this critical infrastructure has an expanded threat surface and is at increased risk of internal threats when compared to

71、traditional RAN.With Open RAN continuing to develop,the disaggregation of the RAN and its interface may potentially increase the likelihood of exploitation of security vulnerabilities due to the lack of“security by obscurity”.Other risks include misconfiguration,the risk of negative impact on other

72、network functions due to resource sharing,and undeveloped specifications that are not secure by design.The increasing numbers of different vendors and/or system integrators and the use of open-source software,with the combination of public and private cloud providers certainly increases the complexi

73、ty of security assurance.Open architectures,such as Open RAN,can give operators more in-depth visibility and understanding of network architectures and equipment.The perception that Open RAN increases threat surface is often because it increases visibility to the actual threat surface,rather than ac

74、tual vulnerabilities.Open RAN network design and its associated security standards are maturing.Careful deployment planning,testing and monitoring are critical to managing the risk with the Telecoms Security Act requirements applicable in the UK.26Private Networks and Open RANAs Open RAN technology

75、develops,mobile network operators are exploring whether it can be applied to 5G private networks to serve enterprise use cases as well as public networks.The private cellular network market provides two advantages for Open RAN developers:There are signs of rising demand for cellular networks from or

76、ganisations that will want a lower-cost,simpler solution than the more complex and customised private networks commissioned by the largest enterprises,which could be addressed by Open RAN.Assuming this demand materialises,it will provide a greenfield market with no incumbency for traditional cellula

77、r equipment vendors.Most of the current performance requirements for private cellular networks can be met by first-generation Open RAN designs,thereby generating near-term revenue for new Open RAN players.27Whilst beneficial in the long run,Open RAN implementations within private networks are still

78、very rare and there are several challenges,similar to standard Open RAN developments,that need to be considered:Availability of devices A key challenge network operators face is the lack of 5G standalone devices.The lack of available devices limits the capacity for mobile networks to run operations

79、for innovative use cases and advanced IoT applications.IntegrationIntegrating Open RAN into private networks with existing operational systems can pose significant technical challenges as it requires a combination of equipment and software from a range of different vendors with each vendor utilising

80、 different technologies and standards,making seamless integration difficult.As such,integration requires a coordinated effort among multiple parties.4 Cyber SecurityRisks and challenges associated with cyber security also arise when private networks integrate Open RAN as the open interfaces can crea

81、te more entry points for cyber attacks.Securing all components from different vendors can be challenging as each piece of equipment and software undergoes thorough testing,to prevent potential vulnerabilities.5Interoperability Interoperability can prove challenging as Open RAN involves multiple vend

82、ors providing different parts of the network infrastructure.Securing components that can communicate and synchronise effectively is necessary but difficult to achieve.The multiple vendor requirements mean different technology standards and protocols are used,which can result in issues with compatibi

83、lity and a less efficient overall network operation.6“Risks and challenges associated with cyber security also arise when private networks integrate Open RAN as the open interfaces can create more entry points for cyber attacks.”How can we overcome these barriers?29Technical ComplexitySeveral Govern

84、ment-funded projects are looking at overcoming the technical complexities of Open RAN and the challenges that a network could face.These use cases have created a form of industry collaboration and critical thinking to experiment with how Open RAN can evolve in a real-life deployment environment.Use

85、Case:Project NAVIGATE (NEC EUROPE LTD,Freshwave Services Limited)NEC and Freshwave are collaborating on an Open RAN project to deliver next-generation multi-operator neutral host small cell solution for high traffic areas-Project NAVIGATE aims to showcase that the Open RAN solution is technically an

86、d operationally viable,demonstrating that it is more cost-effective and energy-efficient compared to legacy single RAN networks.NAVIGATE supports the multi-operator neutral host network to facilitate the deployment of open RAN,enabling all UK mobile operators networks to connect to it.30Use Case:5G

87、Standalone Outdoor Field Testing Site (Digital Catapult,Cellnex UK,Capgemini)Digital Catapult,in partnership with Ofcom and global collaborators Cellnex UK and Capgemini,has launched its first independent 5G SA(Standalone)outdoor field testing site for Open RAN technology.The outdoor testbed was est

88、ablished after Ofcom granted Digital Catapult a special research and development spectrum licence in the shared spectrum allocation,to encourage further Open Radio Access Networks(Open RAN)experimentation.Located in Parsons Green and Fulham,the outdoor facility will serve as a critical hub for the a

89、dvancement and validation of Open RAN solutions in the capital,allowing vendors to rigorously test their products in a representative network deployment scenario.The new outdoor test site will be fully integrated with existing state-of-the-art indoor facilities and will provide a unique location to

90、take product testing to the next level by simulating the typical challenges encountered in a real-world network.The outdoor test environment will closely mirror 5G outdoor commercial deployments,and replicate the complexities of both public and private 5G networks.It will include outdoor macro cover

91、age and small cell deployment to create a test network with overlapping coverage,enabling radio equipment of different sizes,power and capabilities,and different network architectures to be deployed.This will allow businesses to test network capabilities such as handover,mobility,interference manage

92、ment and overall performance.“The outdoor facility will serve as a critical hub for the advancement and validation of Open RAN solutions”31Maximising interoperability and readinessThe telecoms industry is also testing several solutions in order to maximise Open RAN interoperability and readiness thr

93、ough different vertical industries.Case study:Wireless Infrastructure Group-Open-RAN for dense urban areasWireless Infrastructure Group(WIG)partnered with Midlands Future Mobility(MFM)and Birmingham City Council(BCC)to deploy the UKs first large-scale 5G small network,enabling transformational mobil

94、e coverage and capacity throughout the City of Birmingham.Project OverviewThe City of Birmingham retains an ambitious socio-economic vision for the area.This includes the use of its extensive road network as a testbed for developing the next generation of connected autonomous vehicles(CAV).WIG was a

95、ppointed to develop a 5G centralised radio access network(C-RAN),including the deployment of fibre-supported small cells on existing BCC streetworks assets.The objective was to connect more than 200 miles of road networks across the region.Solution and network architecture evolutionDeveloped by WIG,

96、the small cell network for this project was originally designed to support traditional C-RAN technologies,with a clear pathway for a seamless transition to open radio access network(O-RAN)technologies in the future.WIGs incorporation of dedicated fibre links to every small cell site was crucial in e

97、nabling mid-haul and front-haul connections,accommodating all O-RAN functional splits.Split 7.2x is considered the preferred option for high capacity,low latency,real-time applications like CAV in densely populated urban environments prone to high levels of interference.WIGs adoption of a modular in

98、frastructure approach allowed service providers to deploy their own radios at each small cell location,facilitating evaluation of alternative splits like 2 and 6,with performance benchmarked in real-world scenarios.32Understanding the ambition and use casesWIGs small cell network underpinned the dig

99、ital transformation of the City of Birmingham and surrounding areas,aligning with their digital ambitions.The provision of new,high-capacity mobile services enabled the following use cases:Expanding the network of roads to create a world-class real-world testbed for developing next-generation CAV.5G

100、-ready with smart monitoring systems allowing vehicles to be connected via high-speed,high-capacity wireless infrastructure.Network architecture which can accommodate future development and innovation in standards and technology.A significant boost to public mobile user experience for both residents

101、 and visitors.This project marked a significant milestone in the advancement of connectivity,particularly in dense urban areas.The deployment sets a precedent for transformative mobile coverage and capacity while demonstrating the potential of Open-RAN technologies and paving the way for future inno

102、vation.WIG Data Centre HubCPRI FronthaulSplit 2 MidhaulSplit 6 FronthaulSplit 7.2x FronthaulWIG Radios at BCC Lamp PostsWIG Fibre Connection0-CU0-RUS-CUS-RUCURUDUBBURRH0-DUS-DU33Case Study:Sunderland Open Network Ecosystem(Sunderland City Council,Boldyn Networks Infrastructure UK Limited,Sunderland

103、Association Football Club Limited,British eSports Federation,Perform Green Limited)The Sunderland Open Network Ecosystem(SONET)Project is poised to transform the way we engage with live sports and esports.The project will showcase a highly efficient,state-of-the art High-Density Demand(HDD)Open RAN

104、solution at the Stadium of Light and the new British Esports Arena,part of the National E-sports Performance Campus in Sunderland.Utilising cloud-native systems,Radio Intelligent Controls and automation,the cutting-edge SONET Project will create a Multi-Network Operator Neutral Host distributed ante

105、nna system that adheres to Joint Operator technical specifications(JOTS).This will deliver a solution capable of providing high-capacity,multi-operator connectivity.In addition,SONET will demonstrate a platform that will reduce the total cost of ownership burden for Mobile Network Operators by conne

106、cting a HDD stadium to an MNO Core Network without the need for a large deployment of base stations,thereby reducing power consumption and space and reducing time-to-market.In addition,the delivery of this high-capacity connectivity platform will provide customers with the capability for immersive i

107、nteractions that will enhance live-streamed football and global e-sports events.The project will develop a UK-first Open RAN solution,bolstering network performance and providing seamless connectivity on user devices,elevating the quality of experience for all users in HDD environments.“The project

108、is poised to transform the way we engage with live sports and e-sports.”34MNO ConfidenceTo help with the challenges relating to clear communication,product reliability and warranty,MNOs could provide open material to potential vendors to serve as a suitability checklist covering the areas outlined b

109、elow:Suitability Checklist:Minimum business size Revenue Employees Business age Warranty Requirements What is the expected term?Does the warranty need to cover in-field support?Steps to warranty replacements and quality KPIs Investment requirements A provision of equipment on a complimentary basis f

110、or testing Technical support Does the provider have the ability to support multiple regions and languages from a technical perspective?How does a field operative obtain technical support from the hardware provider?Establishing train the trainer courses on installation and troubleshooting Product roa

111、d maps and evolution Showing clear advancement and what the future holds Performance metrics by technology Operators to provide key technical KPIs that need to be delivered in terms of network performanceThe above points represent just a snippet of the complex geography that will need to be navigate

112、d if Open RAN solutions are to become a credible contender of the existing vendor ecosystem that exists and is well established and embedded into the culture of MNO operations.35Standards and specificationsOpen RAN standards allow any organisation to create RAN products that can interoperate thanks

113、to industry standard interfaces.There are two dominant Open RAN standardisation bodies:the O-RAN Alliance and the Telecom Infra Project(TIP).However,they are not the entirety of the Open RAN standards movement.The general goals of creating Open RAN standards are to bring new vendors into the RAN mar

114、ket and to give other options to single-vendor solutions.Below are a number of organisations that providers should consider when adhering to standards and specifications.For Open RAN split options,service providers should consider certain tradeoffs and their specific use cases when selecting the RAN

115、 split option that will best meet their requirements for their 5G deployments.Industry organisations such as 3GPP,the O-RAN Alliance and the Small Cell Forum will continue to develop the specifications and architectures to support diverse 5G use cases.O-RAN AllianceThe O-RAN Alliance(O-RAN)is a grou

116、p that defines specifications for radio access networks.The O-RAN ALLIANCE is following the 3GPP security design practices of rigorous threat modelling and risk analysis to identify security requirements and solutions that enable O-RAN to provide the level of security expected by the industry and 5G

117、 users.The O-RAN ALLIANCE Security Task Group(STG)engages with O-RAN ALLIANCE Working Groups(WGs)to tackle security challenges on all O-RAN interfaces and components,specifying and recommending modern,practical security solutions.Since March 2023,O-RAN working groups and focus groups have published

118、57 technical documents,bringing the total to 101 specification titles in 438 versions.36Telecoms Infra Project(TIP)The Telecoms Infra Projects(TIP)OpenRAN program supports the development of disaggregated and interoperable 2G/3G/4G/5G NR Radio Access Network(RAN)solutions based on service provider r

119、equirements.TIP OpenRAN seeks strong partnerships across the industry with organisations 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.3G

120、PPThe 3rd Generation Partnership Project(3GPP)was established in December 1998 to evolve mobile systems to the next generation.Radio access technologies such as GSM,LTE and 5G NR are all a part of the 3GPP family,as are the Core Network and Systems Architecture Evolution building blocks that support

121、 them.ETSIThe European Telecoms Standards Institute(ETSI)has a process to enable access to publicly available specifications(PAS)through which the ORAN specifications are brought through.An inherent feature of this process is ensuring that the security aspects of other ETSI standards are aligned.Sma

122、ll Cell ForumThe Small Cell Forum drives sustainable digital transformation through agile,scalable,shared communications infrastructure.Its focus area is in small cells and neutral hosting.The Small Cell Forum develops technical standards and regulatory guidelines and collaborates with governments,r

123、egulators,and policymakers.Joint Operators Technical SpecificationsThe Joint Operators Technical Specifications(JOTS)forum publishes technical specifications to enable mobile operators and their partners to deploy high-quality shared wireless solutions for the benefit of their customers.The JOTS for

124、um aims to specify the performance,coverage,and reliability of wireless systems that mobile operators share.Equipment providers and installers should reference the JOTS forum specifications when they deploy shared radio solutions for the benefit of mobile operators and their customers.37All four of

125、the UKs mobile network operators participated in creating the specification and it reduces the complexity around a neutral host providing indoor mobile coverage to businesses.By adhering to the evolving JOTS NHIB specification,a third party,or“neutral host”can provide mobile services to businesses o

126、n behalf of one or more of the operators.The neutral host can enable this connectivity using their own choice of vendors and equipment.As of today,the Open RAN neutral hosting opportunity remains nascent.Building on initiatives such as the JOTS forum,operators must develop the commercial and operati

127、onal blueprints to realise Open RAN neutral hosting at scale.Examples of how this has benefitted the wider ecosystem include the Neutral Host In-Building(NHIB)specification,a technical standard for connecting shared in-building radio solutions based on 4G small cell technologies.Boldyn Networks,like

128、 other players in the ecosystem,has a cloud-based NHIB solution.The architecture and ecosystem are evolving and new solutions are arriving such as Distributed Antenna System(DAS)providers that can connect via Open RAN Split 7.2 architecture to DU/CU vendors that provide the input feed to the DAS.Hel

129、ping to facilitate this interoperability,defining the support models,and generally promoting the approach in the industry would be beneficial.“The architecture and ecosystem are evolving and new solutions are arriving.helping to facilitate this interoperability”38SecurityGlobal Community Task Forces

130、Vendors should explore security best practices and customers should perform due diligence to ensure the vendors are doing so.The O-RAN Alliance is working to address security issues with its Security Task Force,which collects security requirements to create a security architecture,framework,and guid

131、elines for its Open RAN standards.The O-RAN Alliance also follows the 3GPP security design practices of rigorous threat modelling and risk analysis to identify security requirements and solutions that enable O-RAN to provide the level of security expected by the industry and 5G users.The O-RAN Allia

132、nce Security Task Group(STG)engages with O-RAN Alliance Working Groups(WGs)to tackle security challenges on all O-RAN interfaces and components,specifying and recommending modern,practical security solutions.The final standardisation step sees the O-RAN Alliance specifications go through the ETSI PA

133、S process.ETSI plays a critical role in ensuring a good security alignment with other systems ORAN has to interoperate with and enabling an advantage to be taken from existing persistent security activity.The ENISA(European Union Agency for Cyber Security)is also preparing a cyber security certifica

134、tion scheme on 5G,which likely will refer to 3GPP 5G Security Assurance Specifications.This differs from the UK,which requires a principles-based approach rather than a point-in-time certification.The UK government has also funded the UK Telecoms Lab(UKTL),which is currently within the National Phys

135、ical Laboratory(NPL).This will enable security testing and research to be undertaken in a suitable environment.It wont certify products or solutions but will enable operators to understand the risks they have to manage more effectively and transparently.“This will enable security testing and researc

136、h to be undertaken in a suitable environment.”39Following comprehensive guidanceSecurity risks that customers may experience with purchased network equipment can be eased by following guidance during selection.The National Cyber Security Centre(NCSC)guidance maintains that a responsible cyber risk a

137、ssessment requires evidence to be provided by both vendors and third parties as well as results attained from testing of products.With access to evidence and testing results,operators would only partially rely on vendor documentation to assess vendor security.Vendors in turn can support customers by

138、 being open about their standards of security practices.Customers may make a valid assessment of the vendors security behaviour when selecting network infrastructure.This assessment may consider the maturity of vendor risk assessment processes,vendor collaboration with the security research communit

139、y,how vendors respond to customers with any security vulnerabilities and product/component support,and vendor compliance with security obligations.40Case Study:PerceptRAN(Metaswitch Networks,The University of Edinburgh,Capgemini UK PLC)The project PerceptRAN has been engaged in identifying and addre

140、ssing the primary challenges associated with Open RAN platform automation and security.This has led to the development of an AI-driven,highly secure carrier-grade Open RAN platform blueprint.During this development,it successfully constructed a programmable RAN platform imbued with dynamic service m

141、odels and a concept of a real-time controller to allow for adaptability in response to varying network demands and enable instant management of network and platform resources.We also constructed several novel use cases that demonstrate the potential of the platform including the detection of externa

142、l interference,and a RAN live migration and failover system.Cloud-native approachesAs the Open RAN ecosystem evolves,it is believed the number of software upgrades will increase this will drive the adoption of a more Cloud-native approach.Cloud-native drives the building and updating of applications

143、,quickly,whilst improving quality and reducing risk.More specifically,it is a process to deliver and run scalable,fault-tolerant apps in the cloud.The cloud-native approach includes a comprehensive set of security solutions to protect cloud workloads,applications,and data.On top of this,we advocate

144、a CI/CD approach(continuous integration,continuous delivery).Continuous integration refers to the practice of frequently integrating code changes into a shared code repository and continuous delivery refers to the integration,testing and delivery of the code changes.Security controls are integral to

145、 the CI/CD approach and robust security controls are needed,at the front end of the process a secure by design ethos.In terms of delivery,CD requires a test environment that matches production as closely as possible to check the security and performance of the system under load.41Case Study:Secure 5

146、G Platform(Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult,Lime Microsystems Limited,Slipstream Engineering Design Limited,Arqit Limited)The Secure 5G Platform is developing a unique and novel 5G O-RAN platform able to provide better efficiency,higher security and a wide frequency range enabling it to

147、be ready for future 5G bands.Current software-defined radio platforms for O-RAN are typically bespoke solutions able to cover only a narrowband of operation.With the opening up of the spectrum towards 10GHz,there is a need to develop systems that are flexible in their frequency range but can output

148、the powers needed for a communication platform for dense environments.Secure 5G aims to bring many suppliers into the Open RAN ecosystem,diversifying and democratising 5G deployment using cost-effective,programmable radio modules.The project also aims to empower network owners with the flexibility t

149、o maintain and upgrade services by running their applications at the very edge of the network,which could be anything from secure on-premises file sharing to low-latency machine learning.The flexibility and reconstruction of the system,coupled with processing power that is powerful enough to run res

150、ource-intensive apps,will allow for further developments in hardware and services by the wider UK telecoms supply chain.“The flexibility and reconstruction of the system,coupled with processing power that is powerful enough to run resource-intensive apps”42Private Networks and Open RANDeploying Open

151、 RAN(Radio Access Network)architecture in enterprise private networks requires careful planning and consideration.There are several key factors to consider for a successful implementation:Network IntegrationBefore deploying Open RAN,it is important to ensure compatibility and integration with existi

152、ng network infrastructure.Assessing the networks capacity and capabilities will help determine the necessary upgrades or modifications required for seamless integration.43SecurityEnterprises must prioritise network security when implementing Open RAN.This includes adopting robust encryption mechanis

153、ms,and authentication protocols,and implementing measures to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.Vendor SelectionChoosing the right vendors for Open RAN components is crucial.Enterprises should thoroughly evaluate vendors based on their track record,expertise,and ability to provide ongoing

154、 support and maintenance.InteroperabilityOpen RAN relies on open and interoperable interfaces,allowing for multi-vendor deployments.Ensuring compatibility between different vendor solutions is essential for seamless integration and future scalability.Performance MonitoringImplementing robust monitor

155、ing and analytics tools to continuously assess network performance is essential.This helps identify any issues,optimize network operations,and ensure a high-quality user experience.Case Study:IS-Wireless launches first Open RAN 5G private network for Industry 4.0The first Open RAN 5G private network

156、 for Industry 4.0 in Poland has been officially launched in Krakow.It marks the beginning of the next generation of mobile networks implementations for industrial purposes in the country.Pioneer installation was implemented by hubraum,Deutsche Telekoms tech incubator and uses Radio Access Network(RA

157、N)provided by local,Polish 5G solutions vendor,IS-Wireless.Conclusion45For the Open RAN market to function effectively,it needs to minimise barriers to entry and standardise interfaces between parts.The suggestions,information and use cases provided can help boost the Open RAN progress within the ec

158、osystem and showcase the great efforts made to enhance interoperability and diversification.It is also clear that collaboration across key industry stakeholders is needed to take advantage of all Open RAN has to offer and enable the industry to utilise the technology to its full potential.Current ef

159、forts made by the UK Government,R&D hubs,and the telecommunications industry show that the ecosystem is collaboratively showcasing the UKs strengths as a source of innovation in telecoms.But to build on this,we must seek joint ambitions,share best practices,and work together on manifesting initiatives for future networks.46With thanksDigital Catapult would like to thank the following organisations and associations for their involvement in this report:Boldyn Networks47Endnotes1.https:/ 5.https:/ Catapult 2024 Digital Catapult101 Euston Road London NW1 2RA digicatapult.org.uk