OpenRAN: A Balanced Perspective

#OpenRAN, an abbreviation for Open Radio Access Network, is a non proprietary version of the Radio Access Network (RAN) system that allows inter-operation between cellular network equipment provided by different vendors. It is intended to replace single-vendor RAN solutions with a more open and flexible architecture architectures that should enable operators to put together best-of-breed networks.

As of today, there are a number of OpenRAN deployments and trials. For instance, #Rakuten Mobile in Japan has launched 4G and 5G commercial services based on OpenRAN architecture, leveraging multiple vendors’ radios. Similarly, NTT Docomo commercially deployed OpenRAN-based 5G sites in Tokyo. Deutsche Telekom has announced plans to deploy OpenRAN solutions. Telefonica has a three-phase plan leading to 30-50% deployment of OpenRAN until 2025 over the company’s network. But the majority of trials and deployments is still mainly for 2/3/4G and in rural or less developed market segments.

OpenRAN supporters tout the benefits it may bring to the telecom industry, such as reducing vendor lock-in, driving innovation, lowering costs, improving network performance, and making 5G more accessible, OpenRAN is transforming the way that companies operate and helping to bring the benefits of 5G to more people. But some of these benefits have been challenged by the major single-RAN vendors, with the most vocal among them being Ericsson and Nokia.

Performance Issues

While OpenRAN has made significant advancements, there are concerns that it may compromise network performance due to its dis-aggregated nature. The traditional single-vendor networks have been optimized over many years of investment. This optimization of hardware and software in an integrated platform by single RAN solutions has led to high performance and reliability. The huge R&D that went into developing complex radio technologies, such as Massive MIMO, also explains why the current OpenRAN vendors still struggle to produce competitive solutions using Massive MIMO for 5GNR.

Vendors like Nokia and Ericsson have already publicly complained that Procurement Departments at Operators still chose to buy Single-RAN rather than OpenRAN for performance/price efficiency. I can only confirm this attitude and also understand why this is happening: why would a customer buy a less performant solution, more complex to support and deploy, for the same price or higher?

As long as this price/performance issue remains, it will be very difficult to get the existing 4 major vendors fully onboard. It's like asking Apple to unbundle and open all the interfaces between Hardware, OS and Software in an iPhone. Why would they do that?

Supportability and Security Issues

The benefits of OpenRAN bring new security and privacy challenges. As OpenRAN offers an entirely different RAN configuration than what exists today, it could lead to severe security and privacy issues if mismanaged. Especially in the short term, by increasing the complexity of networks, OpenRAN could exacerbate certain types of security risks, providing a larger attack surface and more entry points for malicious actors.

The standardization bodies are certainly busy making the basic interfaces work. It is however crucial that work gets done to also address the need for enhanced interfaces for troubleshooting, tracing and problem isolation in order to facilitate the work of support teams dealing with multiple vendors equipment and software.

Similarly to what has been in the Operating Systems and Cloud Platforms space, a lot of tooling will need to be developed, and as has been demonstrated over the past, most of such tooling will only be adopted if it is done in an open environment, i.e. Open Source development. The question remains: how much of this open attitude would the existing and the new vendors adopt?

Forward looking

While OpenRAN holds significant promise for the future of telecom networks, it’s crucial to approach its adoption with a balanced perspective, acknowledging both its potential benefits and the challenges it presents. To ensure OpenRAN delivers on its promises, the industry needs to address the performance and security issues associated with its open nature. This could involve establishing clear standards and protocols, investing in research and development to optimize hardware and software performance, and implementing robust security measures. Collaboration between vendors, operators, and regulatory bodies will be key to overcoming these challenges. As the telecom industry continues to evolve, OpenRAN will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping its future, provided these critical issues are effectively addressed.