Network operators set out O-RAN priorities
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and Vodafone have published a list of priority technical requirements for O-RAN systems titled Open RAN Technical Priorities.
The group is calling for large scale O-RAN deployments from next year. “Macro deployment is the primary target”, says the group, adding that O-RAN small cells are also a target for indoors.
“A clear focus for Open RAN is on 3.4-3.8 GHz and a number of legacy FDD bands, while the interest in millimeter wave is tied to specific country availabilities,” says the document.
“Open X2/Xn are a baseline but a fully disaggregated RAN will also require an Open F1 interface for the CU-DU split of gNBs. Open E2 and A1 interfaces are also required and shall comply with the O-RAN ALLIANCE specifications to allow multi-vendor / multi0technology RIC deployment mid-term,” says the document, adding “for a unified SMO approach, interoperable O1 interfaces towards all the RAN nodes will be required, while the O2 interface will be needed for the SMO (Service Management & Orchestration) to operate the CNFs running on the O-Cloud infrastructure.”