Nokia Open RAN
Nokia is investing in Open RAN and Cloud RAN, enabling a
robust 5G ecosystem with strong network performance
and security
Executive Summary
As 5G continues to be rolled out, the industry has begun to explore the potential benefits of an expanded
ecosystem of mobile access players in the market. Communications Service Providers (CSPs), vendors and
even governments are working together to define the role of open standards and how they can help evolve
5G networks to support new services and enhanced efficiency. Open Radio Access Network (RAN) sits at the
heart of this discussion.
Open RAN refers to the overall concept of creating the possibility of an open RAN environment, with
interoperability between different vendors happening over a set of defined interfaces.
Nokia believes all industry stakeholders must jointly create a path for the adoption of Open RAN. CSPs and
vendors need to work together to contribute to standard definitions, including Open RAN interfaces, and
define an adoption plan.
By enabling innovations, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applied to the RAN,
Open RAN will create many benefits. These include improved network performance; accelerated time-tomarket of new services and functions; more flexible and agile networks; and CAPEX and OPEX efficiencies.
Nokia is driving and actively contributing to the
O-RAN specification
The O-RAN specification complements 3GPP, ONAP and ETSI specifications. Open RAN aims to create
easier interoperability on existing 3GPP RAN interfaces. In addition, the O-RAN Alliance is defining new
interfaces not currently being specified by 3GPP.
The O-RAN Alliance started in June 2018 and has rapidly gained momentum. The alliance inherited the
activities of the previous xRAN and C-RAN forums. Nokia has contributed to both xRAN and C-RAN, and
was the first leading RAN vendor to join the O-RAN Alliance. There are now more than 20 CSPs and over
160 contributing members in the Alliance, and the first set of completed specifications have been made
publicly available on the O-RAN Alliance website. Nokia is widely represented in all O-RAN working groups
and co-chairs groups that are defining the O-RAN Fronthaul Interface and the O-RAN near-real-time RAN
Intelligent Controller (RIC).
The Open RAN Policy Coalition is a group of companies formed to promote policies that will accelerate
the adoption of open RAN solutions to create innovation, spur competition and expand the supply chain
for advanced wireless technologies, including 5G. The coalition is formed of global vendors and CSPs to
promote public policies for an Open RAN environment.
Nokia is the first major global RAN vendor to join the Open RAN Policy Coalition. Nokia has a long history of
support for open and interoperable technologies and is a substantial contributor to 3GPP for 3G, 4G and
5G. Nokia, along with CSPs and other stakeholders, is helping to shape policy choices that will affect how
wireless networks are built, including support for research and development in open networks.
Key Open RAN architecture components
Nokia is also driving the development and technical specification of the Open Fronthaul Interface and
the near-real-time RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), which will help automate and optimize the network. In
addition to the O-RAN Alliance, Nokia has championed open standards in 3GPP, the Linux Foundation’s
ONAP initiative, ETSI’s Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) initiative, and more.
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Executive Summary
Nokia Open RAN
RAN Intelligent Controller as the gateway for network innovation
RIC is a new optional virtualized 5G optimization technology that adds programmability to an existing or
new RAN and allows SON-like (Self-Optimizing Networks) capabilities to be added.
Nokia and AT&T are jointly creating an RIC software platform and have run a successful trial with external
applications, called “xApps”, at the edge of the CSP’s live 5G mmWave network on an Akraino-based
Open Cloud Platform. The RIC platform provides functions and interfaces that boost optimization
through policy-driven closed loop automation and faster, more flexible service deployments, as well as
programmability with AI/ML technologies within the RAN.
“This successful trial is a testament to what we can achieve through openness
and collaboration. Together with the O-RAN Alliance, AT&T and Nokia will continue
to develop and contribute to the E2 interface and the near-real-time RIC
platform to help enable an intelligent and flexible 5G network.”
Mazin Gilbert, VP of Technology and Innovation at AT&T
RIC will allow xApps to control aspects of the 5G radio network through installed control applications. xApps
can come from multiple sources and provide many benefits. One example is smarter traffic steering across
different layers and radio access technologies, driven by machine learning, improve spectral efficiency and
network capacity.
O-RAN-based fronthaul using eCPRI
The O-RAN Alliance has specified an eCPRI-based 7.2x open interface between the Radio Unit (O-RU)
and Distributed Unit (O-DU). This is the only standardized fronthaul interface that enables multi-vendor
interoperability, while optimizing the cost of fronthaul transmission and maximizing RF performance.
O-RAN fronthaul scales efficiently from conventional Radio Units used in LTE up to high bandwidth and
massive MIMO in 5G.
Nokia Open RAN solutions will deliver world class
performance and security
Nokia’s O-RAN support will be built on its existing AirScale platform which provides the same high
performance and feature set Nokia customers have come to expect. Nokia has already made significant
investments in O-RAN, leading the early deployment of RIC and the open fronthaul.
Nokia’s solution is built for security, designed according to DFSEC (Design for Security) and NESAS (Network
Equipment Security Assurance Scheme) processes and supported by years of field experience.
While Open RAN offers programmability for network optimization and stimulates innovation through open
interfaces, key items need to be addressed to enable its adoption. These include interoperability and
lifecycle management of network functions, as well as interworking with deployed networks.
It is also important to recognize the increased complexity of multi-vendor integration. Nokia has developed
strong multi-vendor integration skills and has vast experience from live networks, as well as a robust
process to ensure interoperability with leading mobile device vendors. This system integration expertise
will support CSPs and aid O-RAN adoption.
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Executive Summary
Nokia Open RAN
Nokia powers the world’s first cloud-based 5G RAN in
North America
While Cloud RAN and Open RAN have strong ties and are often discussed together, they are different
technologies and one can be applied without the other. Open RAN defines open interfaces between
network elements, while Cloud RAN virtualizes the baseband and separates baseband hardware and
software.
Nokia AirScale Cloud RAN is the most advanced solution of ts kind, virtualizing not only the 5G central unit,
but also the 5G distributed unit. The solution offers CSPs 5G coverage, capacity, low-latency and real-time
cloud-based processing to meet changing demand, helping them generate revenue from new 5G services,
with lower costs.
Being able to run the same software across RAN/Cloud RAN/O-RAN enables ultimate flexibility in defining
CSP network architecture without sacrificing network features, performance or security. Nokia is the only
global RAN vendor with experience in multi-vendor Cloud RAN implementations.
“Cloud RAN has the potential to fundamentally transform mobile networks,
making them more agile and dynamic and allowing operators to be more nimble
in activating new services and revenue streams. Nokia has been more proactive
and consistent in driving Cloud RAN technology than its peers, and the launch of
its fully cloudified 5G AirScale Cloud RAN solution is only the latest example of
its commitment.”
Ed Gubbins, Principal Analyst at GlobalData
Nokia is committed to enabling a secure and open telecom
supply chain
Nokia believes that policymakers, CSPs and equipment providers should work together to support research
and development of emerging network technologies that include open systems, advanced 5G technologies
and foundational 6G research, with policies that support a robust ecosystem of trusted suppliers. A well
coordinated effort around open solutions will contribute to the success of the 5G transformation.
Nokia’s accelerated investment and firm commitment to Open RAN ensures that countries can embrace
openness to secure their telecom supply chain, without compromising on the security, scalability and
performance of their 5G infrastructure.
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Executive Summary
Nokia Open RAN
About Nokia
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the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks.
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Document code: SR2007045302EN (July) CID207651