Open Radio Access Network, (Open RAN)

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Short for Open Radio Access Network, Open RAN, is critical to 5G deployment. In India, the Open RAN architecture is essential but also fraught with challenges.

What is Open RAN?

Open Radio Access Network, or Open RAN, is a key part of a mobile network system that uses cellular radio connections to link individual devices to other parts of a network.

• It comprises antennae, which transmits and receives signals to and from our smartphones or other compatible devices. The signal is then digitised in the RAN-base station and connected to the network.
• O-RAN uses software to make hardware manufactured by different companies work together.

Advantages of Open-RAN:

• An open environment expands the ecosystem, and provides more Options to the Operators.
• It will boost new opportunities for the Indian entities to enter into the network equipment market.
• It is expected to make 5G more flexible and cost-efficient.
• The Open RAN architecture allows for the separation or disaggregation, between hardware and software with open interfaces.

How is Open RAN different from traditional RAN?

In the traditional set-up, Radio Access Network is provided as an integrated platform of both hardware and software. Therefore, it is difficult to mix vendors for the radio and baseband unit, and in most cases, they come from the same supplier.

• The idea of Open RAN is to change this, and enable operators to mix and match components.

Radio access network (RAN)

• It is a part of a mobile telecommunication system. It implements a radio access technology.
• Conceptually, it resides between a device such as a mobile phone, a computer, or any remotely controlled machine and provides connection with its core network (CN).
• RAN functionality is typically provided by a silicon chip residing in both the core network as well as the user equipment