radisys.com 24
Radisys Series — Who Disaggregated My RAN?
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In addition to the TIFG, the O-RAN Alliance working groups also publish detailed conformance and interoperability
testing specifications. These different testing specifications help ensure interoperability among O-RAN network
nodes and open interfaces. For example, the Open Fronthaul working group has recently published a conformance
testing specification targeted mainly for O-RAN compliant radios.
The TIFG has also begun conducting "plugfests" in which vendors can bring their various components together
and make sure that the solutions are interoperable. This provides opportunity for the ecosystem to also find new
partners and expand their interoperability connections. Operators host these events and are able to see how these
different products work together, meet their performance standards, and see the range of solutions available for
their needs. As a result, operators are more confident in these O-RAN solutions and have begun working with these
vendors in their own labs for further details, testing and evaluation. The second edition of O-RAN Plugfest is to be
held across multiple geographic locations, during September this year.
New Test Tools in the Market for Open RAN Solutions
Just as Open RAN solutions have created more opportunity within other parts of the ecosystem, there is rapid
growth taking place in the testing area as current and new vendors begin to develop new testing tools that the
market needs. As new interfaces are defined, and new standards come out of the O-RAN Alliance, the leading
testing vendors are embracing the O-RAN standards and are building new test products to ensure smooth and
seamless integration. The test tools increase operator confidence in compliance and interoperability of multi-
vendor Open RAN solutions.
The OTIC Initiative
As new testing tools are available and focus continues on solutions and interoperability, there is a need for a
neutral lab and a neutral vendor that will allow operators and vendors to come together with their solutions.
Operators and vendors need a neutral system integrator, familiar with all of the nuances inherent in Open RAN
integration, testing, benchmarking and deployment readiness, who can serve in the integrator role and will test the
interoperability for these solutions.
Last year, a group of leading Tier 1 operators within the O-RAN Alliance announced the Open Test and Integration
Center (OTIC) Initiative. Led by China Mobile and Reliance Jio along with participation from China Telecom, China
Unicom, Intel, Radisys, Airspan, Baicells, CertusNet, Mavenir, Lenovo, Ruijie Network, Inspur, Samsung Electronics,
Sylincom, WindRiver, ArrayComm, and Chengdu NTS.
The O-RAN Alliance is actively encouraging operators to create OTIC labs for themselves and has published
guidelines on how an OTIC lab is to function. China Mobile has already established several OTIC labs. As more OTIC
labs are hosted by operators around the world, vendors will have a neutral venue to bring their products in and test
them on a regular basis, speeding up development and implementation times.
