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Assessment of Open Ran: Difference between revisions
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Radio Access Network (RAN) is a telecommunications network component that links your mobile phone or laptop to the core network<ref name=":1">https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/velliet_open_ran_2022_us.pdf</ref>. It comprises radio units (RUs), antenna and baseband units (BBUs) in the case of a 4G network. The BBU consists of centralized units (CUs) and distributed units (DUs). The RUs are responsible for sending and receiving data, whereas the BBUs process that data. In a traditional RAN architecture, the interface between the BBU and the RU is closed while all other interfaces are open. The Open RAN architecture aims to solve this, as shown by the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) figures below. | Radio Access Network (RAN) is a telecommunications network component that links your mobile phone or laptop to the core network<ref name=":1">https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/velliet_open_ran_2022_us.pdf</ref>. It comprises radio units (RUs), antenna and baseband units (BBUs) in the case of a 4G network. The BBU consists of centralized units (CUs) and distributed units (DUs). The RUs are responsible for sending and receiving data, whereas the BBUs process that data. In a traditional RAN architecture, the interface between the BBU and the RU is closed while all other interfaces are open. The Open RAN architecture aims to solve this, as shown by the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) figures below. | ||
As shown in figure 2, the Open Ran architecture disaggregates the BBU into DU and CU using the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards and creates open interfaces between them. The open interfaces enable the operator to incorporate many vendors into its network, as we will discuss further in this report. However, it should be noted that this is not the only work of the Open Ran architecture. With Open Ran deployment, the operator benefits from its many other features. | As shown in figure 2, the Open Ran architecture disaggregates the BBU into DU and CU using the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards and creates open interfaces between them. The open interfaces enable the operator to incorporate many vendors into its network, as we will discuss further in this report. However, it should be noted that this is not the only work of the Open Ran architecture. With Open Ran deployment, the operator benefits from its many other features. | ||
Benefits of Open Ran | |||
Open Ran has received a lot of interest from telcos due to its many expected benefits. Its ability to expand into other areas, such as automation and virtualization, makes industry players want to deploy it as soon as possible. Below are its main benefits. | |||
1.It eliminates vendor lock-ins | |||
Vendor lock-in is when the network operator is restricted to only one vendor. For instance, in vendor lock-in, the player supplying the hardware should be the same one supplying the software. As illustrated by the Parallel Wireless chart below, Open Ran removes such vendor lock-ins<ref name=":0" />. With Open Ran, an operator can add software from vendor B to hardware from vendor A and vice versa being true. | Vendor lock-in is when the network operator is restricted to only one vendor. For instance, in vendor lock-in, the player supplying the hardware should be the same one supplying the software. As illustrated by the Parallel Wireless chart below, Open Ran removes such vendor lock-ins<ref name=":0" />. With Open Ran, an operator can add software from vendor B to hardware from vendor A and vice versa being true. | ||