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O-RAN Alliance Pushes for Open RAN Standardization

The O-RAN ALLIANCE recently convened at the MWC Barcelona 2025, shedding light on the impressive strides made in the realm of open RAN technology throughout 2024. The summit highlighted significant priorities that will shape the near future of radio access networks (RAN) as the telecom industry eyes the transition to the next generation, 6G.

Key Directions Highlighted at the Summit

During the summit, Abdu Mudesir, Chair of the Board of O-RAN ALLIANCE and Group CTO at Deutsche Telekom, articulated that the organization's core mission revolves around several pivotal aspects: enhancing interoperability and innovation through openness, integrating AI to boost the efficiency of network management, and utilizing virtualization to allow for scalable and cost-effective RAN deployments.

A crucial component of advancing O-RAN globally involves sharing deployment experiences and aligning on essential specifications that operators can leverage for real-world applications. Among these specifications, the alliance focused on:

• - High-performance, interoperable open fronthaul: This feature is vital for supporting advanced massive MIMO operations, which serve as a cornerstone for enhancing network capacity and efficiency.
• - AI-driven network management: With a mature RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) and decoupled Service Management and Orchestration (SMO), operators are set to improve both control and management through advanced AI capabilities.
• - Enhanced security: The focus on implementing a robust security architecture, including Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), ensures that O-RAN systems can safeguard against potential vulnerabilities effectively.

Pursuit of AI Integration in RAN

The O-RAN ALLIANCE has consistently aimed to integrate AI within its architecture. Since its inception, the architecture has included components that support RICs and foster intelligent management of RAN environments. Key advancements over the past year have included the development of:

• - RIC-enabled energy savings: This capability facilitates the optimization of energy consumption across network resources, stemming from insights derived from AI analytics.
• - Framework for RAN Information Exposure (RAIE): This feature enables third parties to design innovative applications based on real-time information about O-RAN’s operational status.
• - Life cycle management for AI/ML: Thanks to the SMO and associated interfaces, managing the data life cycle for AI and machine learning applications is now streamlined.

Regional Collaboration for Standardization

In an effort to maintain global uniformity, various standardization bodies have been invited to discuss their regional initiatives aimed at promoting open RAN technologies. Bodies such as ATIS in North America, ETSI in Europe, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and TTA in South Korea have committed to integrating O-RAN specifications into national standards. This alignment aims to prevent fragmentation in the market and provide funding for R&D and trials, thereby fostering innovation in the private sector.

Supporting Diverse Industries

The O-RAN architecture is versatile, capable of extending its benefits to various sectors, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. These industries seek intelligent RAN solutions to cater to specific operational needs. An example of this versatility was evident during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where specialized O-RAN-based solutions were employed to ensure high-performance connectivity for the event. Moreover, the principles of openness help in transitioning terrestrial RAN into integrated satellite solutions, providing broader coverage.

The Path Towards 6G

As the telecommunications industry transitions into the 6G era, the O-RAN ALLIANCE is actively collaborating with 3GPP to sculpt an integrated vision that harmonizes O-RAN’s innovations with the broader 6G ecosystem. This cooperation is set to ensure that the developed specifications and standards are consistent and synergistic with ongoing architectural evolutions in the 6G landscape.

Overview of the O-RAN ALLIANCE Summit

The summit was an informative gathering featuring 24 distinguished speakers across six insightful sessions. These sessions covered topics ranging from the current state of O-RAN to the future evolution of 3GPP and O-RAN architectures, all fundamentally aimed at paving the way for a transformative 6G future.

To gain insights from the discussions, recordings of the sessions from the O-RAN ALLIANCE Summit at MWC Barcelona 2025 are now available for viewing. As the alliance continues to push for unification and improvement within RAN technologies, the future of telecommunications holds promise with the potential for improved user experiences and operational efficiency.

About O-RAN ALLIANCE

The O-RAN ALLIANCE is a global community comprising mobile operators, technology vendors, and research institutions actively reshaping the RAN landscape. The alliance seeks to enhance mobile networks through open, intelligent, and virtualized systems while promoting a competitive supplier ecosystem that encourages faster innovation. For more detailed information regarding the organization, you can visit www.o-ran.org.