Open RAN
Open RAN, or Open Radio Access Network, is a transformative approach in mobile network architecture that disaggregates the Radio Access Network (RAN) into its core components: Radio Units (RUs), Distributed Units (DUs), and Centralized Units (CUs), which are connected using open standard interfaces. This disaggregation allows for the virtualization and containerization of these functions, enabling service providers to avoid vendor lock-in and foster vendor diversity. The O-RAN Alliance, a global community of mobile operators, manufacturers, and research institutions, defines the specifications for Open RAN components and interfaces, promoting openness, intelligence, and interoperability.
Open RAN aims to solve several problems for service providers, including lowering total cost of ownership (TCO), enhancing network performance, and enabling the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies for network optimization. The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is a key element in Open RAN, providing an “app store” for network applications that can be used to automate and optimize RAN operations at scale.
The benefits of Open RAN include:
- Reduced costs through the use of open interfaces and virtualization
- Increased innovation and competition among vendors
- Greater flexibility and scalability in network deployment
- Enhanced security through the ability to choose from a broader basket of security solutions
- Improved network performance and customer experience
Major industry players, such as Juniper Networks, Ericsson, Nokia, and Rakuten, are actively involved in promoting and implementing Open RAN solutions, which are seen as the future of mobile network architecture, particularly for 5G services[1][2][3][4][5].
Citations:
[1] https://www.juniper.net/us/en/research-topics/what-is-open-ran.html
[2] https://www.ericsson.com/en/openness-innovation/open-ran-explained
[3] https://www.nokia.com/networks/radio-access-networks/open-ran/open-ran-explained/
[4] https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/what-is-open-ran.html
[5] https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/open-ran-explained-all-you-need-to-know-and-more
[6] https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/solutions/open-ran
[7] https://www.vodafone.com/about-vodafone/what-we-do/technology/open-ran