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Near-Realtime RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC)

A Near-Realtime RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) is a software-defined component within the Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) architecture that plays a crucial role in controlling and optimizing the Radio Access Network (RAN) elements and resources. It is part of a disaggregated RAN approach that aims to bring intelligence, agility, programmability, and multivendor interoperability to radio access networks[2].


The Near-RT RIC is designed to enable network optimization actions that typically take between 10 milliseconds to one second to complete and is usually located within a telco edge or regional cloud[1][2].


The Near-RT RIC works coordinates with a Non-Real-Time RIC (Non-RT RIC), which operates on a timescale greater than one second and is part of the Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) framework[1][2][5].


The Near-RT RIC is responsible for:


  1. Providing a database function that stores configurations related to E2 nodes, cells, bearers, flows, UEs, and their mappings.
  2. Offering machine learning (ML) tools that support data pipelining.
  3. Providing a messaging infrastructure.
  4. Enabling logging, tracing, and metrics collection from the Near-RT RIC framework and xApps to the SMO.
  5. Providing security functions.
  6. Supporting conflict resolution to address potential conflicts or overlaps caused by requests from xApps[1][3].


The Near-RT RIC uses specialized applications called xApps to control and optimize RAN elements in near-real-time, leveraging AI-based recommendations for network optimization and policy guidance[1][2]. These xApps can collect near-real-time information on a UE or cell basis and control the RAN infrastructure, including load balancing, resource block management, interference management, and handover control[3].


See also: Non-Realtime RIC (Non-RT RIC)


Citations:

[1] https://www.sdxcentral.com/resources/glossary/near-real-time-ran-intelligent-controller-ric/

[2] https://www.juniper.net/us/en/research-topics/what-is-ric.html

[3] https://rimedolabs.com/blog/o-ran-near-real-time-ric/

[4] https://firecell.io/terms/near-realtime-ric/

[5] https://www.rcrwireless.com/20211129/fundamentals/non-real-time-ric-vs-near-real-time-ric

[6] https://www.thenetworkmediagroup.com/blog/open-ran-the-role-of-the-ran-intelligent-controller-kjb4c

[7] https://arxiv.org/pdf/2202.01032.pdf

[8] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/o-ran-overview-architecture-near-real-time-ric-use-cases-dryjanski

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