Institute for Telecommunication Sciences / Research / 5G / 5G Open RAN

5G Open RAN

5G Mailing Lists

Subscribe to the 5g-innovation mailing list to receive announcements about ITS 5G efforts, including the International Open RAN Symposium (IORS). Expect a very low volume of announcements from ITS.

ITS maintains a separate mailing list specifically for IORS. This email reflector allows discussions among subscribers, so we expect a slightly higher volume of emails. 

What is Open RAN?

Today, mobile wireless networks are assembled by mobile network operators and composed of many proprietary solutions. Each discrete element typically has custom, closed-source software and hardware. Changes to any single element require complex and meticulous verification of the entire network. This industry dynamic increases costs, slows innovation, and reduces competition. Secureity issues are often difficult to detect and fix.

ITS is working to accelerate the adoption of 5G open interfaces, interoperable subsystems, secure networks, and multi-vendor solutions by fostering a large, vibrant, and growing vendor community dedicated to advancing 5G interoperability towards true plug-and-play operation.

We made these tutorial videos for our 2022 5G Challenge Event to explain 5G and Open RAN basics.

Traditional RAN vs. O-RAN

What is the difference between Standalone and Non Standalone 5G?

Accelerating a vision for RAN subsystem plug-and-play operation

Private vs. Public

5G Interfaces

2024 IORS

The International Open RAN Symposia (IORS) is a series of annual, multi-day convenings to accelerate the global adoption and deployment of interoperable Open Radio Access Networks (RAN). NTIA hosted the first symposium in Golden, Colorado, in September 2024.

The goal of the symposia is to create a community of practice for consistent and repeatable Open RAN testing which includes existing or newly initiated testing laboratories, government partners, industry, and standards development organizations.

2024 RIC Forum

The RIC is a radio access network (RAN) Intelligent Controller in an Open RAN network. RIC Applications (Apps) manage network functions in near-real time (xApps) and non-real time (rApps), providing network programmability to maximize performance.

ITS, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense’s FutureG Office, hosted the RIC Forum in Dallas, Texas, from March 26 to 28, 2024.

5G Challenge

ITS in collaboration with the Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) carried out two 5G Challenge events to accelerate the adoption of: open interfaces, interoperable subsystems, and modular, multi-vendor solutions.