Open RAN

As a preeminent Open RAN test company, VIAVI has developed an E2E Open RAN portfolio encompassing robust device, antenna, and core test solutions than span the entire Open RAN lifecycle. A comprehensive Open RAN test process must meet the challenge of testing each element and combination in every direction.

Validation: NITRO® Wireless brings together proven performance and interoperability test platforms used throughout the industry for 3GPP and O-RAN with cloud, intelligence, automation, and digital twin technology enabled by the Network Integrated Test, Real-Time Analytics and Optimization (NITRO) platform.

As networks become more complex and layered, a focus on measuring and assuring experience from the user perspective – by emulating usage scenarios modeled on real network data – generates the essential intelligence to simplify the delivery of new technology.

NITRO^® Wireless offers products, solutions and services to enable all participants in the ecosystem – equipment manufacturers, service providers, semiconductor companies, software developers and system integrators – to accelerate technology development by validating performance at each stage in intelligent, intuitive and automated ways.

As part of the NITRO^® Wireless Test Suite, the industry-leading TM500 network tester is designed to validate the user experience (UE) by emulating thousands of mobile devices across multiple cells and radio access technologies. The TM500 mitigates the challenges of multi-vendor Open RAN architecture by providing a test platform agnostic to network disaggregation. The  TM500 O-RU and O-DU Testers simplify, conformance, throughput, and capacity testing processes, and real-world fronthaul data flows can be emulated, even with no O-RU present.

Scalability is a key attribute of the TM500 that allows the scope of testing to expand from functional or conformance testing to a high-capacityE2E Open RAN performance testing. Small-scale and software only TM500 solutions are available to suit focused development efforts while test appliances designed for rapid, multi-port testing meet the needs of multiple engineers and applications simultaneously.

The NITRO^® Wireless TeraVM is an essential tool for 5G RAN and core network performance testing, with the Core Emulator providing a controllable and repeatable RAN test environment. The TeraVM O-CU Tester delivers a complete wraparound testing framework for the O-CU so it can be robustly tested and optimized.

For Open RAN infrastructure, the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) requires continuous inputs to support and optimize decision-making. The TeraVM AI RSG test utilizes an intuitive RAN scenario generator to simulate traffic flow patterns in the lab. Anomalies are used to train the RIC and assess the decision-making process. The TeraVM also supports comprehensive E2 interface testing and scalable emulation of UEs, gNBs, O-CUs, and O-DUs in any combination.

The Open RAN ecosystem is complex, with the functionality of the near-RT RIC established by a mix of microservice-based xApps that may be from a variety of suppliers. This makes it challenging  for operators to establish assurance across all stages of the product lifecycle, from sandbox development through network operation. xApps from disparate sources must perform in a coherent and compatible manner when operating either independently or in tandem. Heterogeneous xApps in combination must be fully validated to implement the policies of the operator across a mix of subscribers. This can entail a wide range of services envisaged for the network across multiple network slices, and an appropriate set of mobility profiles.

The TeraVM near Real Time RIC Test provides emulated RAN inputs to a RIC under test to evaluate the efficacy of RAN changes proposed by xApps. This capability allows AI-suggested outcomes to be optimized and compared to established network KPIs.

The NITRO^® Wireless Xhaul Advisor is a versatile Open RAN test solution that can run on COTS hardware to enable comprehensive interoperability testing. When deployed in conjunction with the TM500 and TeraVM, Xhaul Advisor effectively identifies and troubleshoots errors caused by timing, configuration, and packet content issues in an end-to-end test case.

Test as a Service (TaaS)

NITRO^® Wireless TaaS (Test as a Service) helps deliver O-RAN projects on-time with access to leading test tools and expertise - simplify your testing process and accelerate 5G and O-RAN Time-to-Market. Delivering 5G and O-RAN projects on time and on budget is challenging but VIAVI expertise and Testing as a Service can help mitigate those risks. TaaS typically includes access to leading-edge lab-based test equipment and expert engineers that can create and execute scripts and analyze test logs. This enables you to concentrate on developing products without needing to worry about the test equipment.

Verification: The T-BERD/MTS-5800 is the industry’s smallest handheld dual-port 100G multi-purpose test instrument. It has found increasing utility in support of 5G and Open RAN. By performing Open RAN health verification testing, the MTS-5800 can identify high level fronthaul issues between the O-DU and O-RU in the field. Packet capture and filtering in this interface can enable advanced troubleshooting and analysis. The T-BERD/MTS-5800 also delivers a complete set of test parameters and profiles for Open RAN synchronization testing.

Radio performance testing to validate successful Open RAN 5G deployment includes beamforming verification, radio conformance testing, transmit power measurement and downlink (DL) modulation quality. The OneAdvisor 800 is a comprehensive, portable RAN test solution with a diverse and easily-upgradable feature set tailor made for advanced 5G and Open RAN deployment and certification tasks. Portable O-DU emulation allows field technicians to verify O-RU radio function instantly and accelerate commissioning, while radio and fiber test reports can be generated with a simple push of a button.

Visibility: The VIAVI NITRO platform provides superior network visibility across the breadth of the radio, RAN, transport, and core. Rich network performance data provides greater insight into O-RAN performance while identifying when and where intervention is needed to optimize autonomic network control systems against a backdrop of changing service and mobility requirements. New edge failure cases beyond what was tested at the pre-deployment stage can be exposed and manifest as degraded performance. This challenges the network monitoring and assurance system to provide a more complete view of the network, with richer analytics to detect problems, isolate the root cause, and provide the most appropriate mitigation.

The momentum behind Open RAN as a logical counterpart for 5G RAN disaggregation and innovation continues to build. VIAVI is accelerating next-gen Open RAN networks through active participation in cross functional forums across the telecom landscape. The annual O-RAN ALLIANCE Plugfest and Telecom Infrastructure Project (TIP) Summit are two of the prime opportunities for service providers, technology developers, system integrators, and test solution leaders pool their resources and expertise.

To align the energy and aspirations of the O-RAN ALLIANCE with TIP OpenRAN and minimize duplication of efforts, a liaison agreement between the two organizations was established. Although TIP remains agnostic regarding O-RAN specifications, the liaison agreement improves collaboration to integrate the strengths of each group. A commitment to specification development by the O-RAN ALLIANCE Technical Steering Committee has allowed the OpenRAN group to remain focused on real-world deployment strategies.

VALOR and NTIA

The VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR) provides fully automated, open, and impartial testing and integration for Open RAN interoperability, performance, and security. VALOR is based on the industry leading VIAVI Open RAN test suite that includes the TM500 and TeraVM solutions. The lab-as-a-service (LaaS) model empowers new Open RAN projects, designers, and engineers to benefit from advanced testing and in-house expertise without the capital investment. A recipient of the NTIA PWSCIF First Notice of Funding Opportunity, VALOR also provides free access for academic institutions and NTIA co-grantees.

Open RAN Policy Coalition

The Open RAN Policy Coalition was launched in 2020 to promote policies that support and advance the adoption of open, interoperable RAN solutions. The thirty-one initial coalition member organizations included many of the largest and most influential telecom, cloud computing, and network technology companies in the world.

The Open RAN Policy Coalition is committed to global implementation with an emphasis on the education of U.S. legislators and policy makers regarding the importance of Open RAN, especially with respect to 5G and 6G RAN architecture. Government backing of an open and interoperable RAN ecosystem fosters cross-functional industry cooperation, competition, and vendor diversity around the world.

Open RAN Energy Efficiency

3GPP has included reduced energy consumption among the top objectives for 5G networks, but exponentially higher cell density and new RAN elements like Massive MIMO make energy efficiency elusive. Open RAN has been identified as a key enabler of reduced energy consumption, with cloud native RICs utilizing AI and ML to continually balance resources, strategically turn off cells and/or frequencies, and recalibrate network slices to optimize QoS and energy consumption simultaneously. The VIAVI TeraVM AI RSG Test helps to reduce Open RAN deployment and operating costs with virtualized test capabilities, allowing developers to accurately assess the efficiency of RIC applications prior to deployment.

Open RAN and 6G

Energy efficiency, sustainability, and intelligent traffic control will also be fundamental to the success of 6G, with AI-native RAN elements built into 6G standards. Open RAN RIC use cases including deep learning (DL) models to process large volumes of data, and reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms to adjust the power of network elements, will be called upon to optimize energy-hungry applications like high-density 6G-IoT and localized learning at the edge.

The O-RAN RIC presents a golden opportunity to fully integrate AI and 6G RAN consistent with the 3GPP evolution path. The VIAVI 6G Forward Program is helping to synergize 6G and Open RAN through wireless technology research, innovation, and testing, as well as partnerships with the O-RAN Alliance, the Institute for Wireless Internet of Things, the Next G Alliance, and other industry leaders.

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