i14y Lab Plug Fest 2025
In 2025, we co-hosted two editions of the i14y Lab PlugFest, conducted as part of the O-RAN Global PlugFest Spring and Fall cycles, working in collaboration with Deutsche Telekom and the i14y Lab consortium partners.
Both PlugFests focused on validating multi-vendor interoperability and technical readiness based on O-RAN Alliance specifications and tailored TIP test plans, contributing to the development of open, flexible, and future-ready RAN architectures.
PlugFest Spring 2025
The Spring PlugFest Pre-Staging took place from 22–25 April, and the Main Testing from 28 April–9 May 2025. The i14y Lab was one of six labs across Europe serving as a venue for the O-RAN Global PlugFest Spring 2025.
Testing was structured into two core testing scenarios:
RIC Scenario – Validation of RIC behaviour and control loops
Included testing of near-real-time RICs with xApps and rApps (COOS-xApp, COOS-rApp and TS-xApp).
Executed under a Juniper Non-RT RIC and Near-RT RIC architecture, combined with Keysight’s RIC test environment.
A network of 39 cells and 390 UEs was emulated based on real-world T-Labs data.
Verified compliance with the E2 interface (KPM, RC, CCC), O1 (PM) and A1 (policy).
Achieved power savings of up to 30% under low load and up to 9% under high load, while maintaining service outage below 6%.
Future work will consider evaluating individual app impact and exploring AI/ML integration to further optimise performance.
End-to-End (E2E) Scenario – Complete system integration
Combined multi-vendor O-RU, O-DU, O-CU and Core network components.
Focused on stability, performance, and validation of end-user service continuity.
Demonstrated how small environmental variances influence test results, highlighting the importance of precise test orchestration.
Showed measurable progress in Fronthaul Integration testing maturity across this and previous PlugFest cycles.
Test execution was followed by reporting 12–16 May 2025 and internal result publication within the O-RAN Alliance 19–23 May 2025.
In the O-RAN Alliance Virtual Showcase you can have a look at the published results from this PlugFest
PlugFest Fall 2025
The second edition of Test activities in the i14y Lab was conducted from November 3 to 14, 2025, and the results were published in collaboration with the O-RAN Alliance at the beginning of December 2025.
This PlugFest focused on advancing test comparability, energy optimisation and high-density deployment scenarios:
RIC Scenario – Validation of RIC behaviour and control loops
Included testing of near-real-time RICs with xApps and rApps (COOS-xApp, COOS-rApp and TS-xApp).
Executed under a Juniper Non-RT RIC and Near-RT RIC architecture, combined with Keysight’s RIC test environment.
A network of 39 cells and 390 UEs was emulated based on real-world T-Labs data.
Verified compliance with the E2 interface (KPM, RC, CCC), O1 (PM) and A1 (policy).
Achieved power savings of up to 30% under low load and up to 9% under high load, while maintaining service outage below 6%.
Future work will consider evaluating individual app impact and exploring AI/ML integration to further optimise performance.
End-to-End (E2E) Scenario – Complete system integration
Combined multi-vendor O-RU, O-DU, O-CU and Core network components.
Focused on stability, performance, and validation of end-user service continuity.
Demonstrated how small environmental variances influence test results, highlighting the importance of precise test orchestration.
Showed measurable progress in Fronthaul Integration testing maturity across this and previous PlugFest cycles.