Open RAN (5G Benchmarking) / Disaggregated RAN
Radio Access Networks represent one of the largest investments for telecom operators. With the arrival of 5G, the number of New Radio sites is growing rapidly to support demanding use cases such as enhanced mobile broadband, massive IoT, and ultra-reliable low latency communication.
Open RAN introduces a new approach to building and operating these networks. By relying on open standards, open interfaces, and open hardware, it allows a broader ecosystem of companies to participate in 5G deployments. The result is greater flexibility, stronger innovation, and reduced dependency on single vendors. Operators gain access to a wider pool of suppliers, more agile architectures, and the opportunity to tailor RAN designs for specific scenarios.
Challenges in Open RAN deployment
Adopting Open RAN also introduces complexity. Operators must maintain performance and efficiency at scale while integrating components from different suppliers. Unlike traditional single-vendor solutions, troubleshooting and problem resolution require coordination across multiple vendors.
Two major interoperability challenges emerge. The first is ensuring that all Open RAN elements from different ecosystems work seamlessly together. The second is guaranteeing smooth integration with legacy technologies such as 4G while supporting diverse device environments. In addition, operators must manage complex system integration tasks with new ecosystem players, including providers of xApps and rApps.
Overcoming the challenges in Open RAN
To succeed with Open RAN, operators need to invest in interoperability and performance testing from the outset. Testing must extend from lab validation to field deployment and ongoing audits in live networks. Continuous validation of multiple scenarios is essential to ensure stability, performance, and readiness for real-world traffic.
Automation plays a critical role. Integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines accelerates deployments and ensures repeatability. Only through efficient and automated testing can the complexity of multi-vendor Open RAN environments be managed effectively.
Services for Open RAN
EANTC offers comprehensive support to telecom operators embarking on Open RAN projects, combining deep expertise in testing, validation, and automation to ensure smooth adoption and deployment. Our services are designed to address the technical challenges of multi-vendor environments while providing actionable insights for operators.
Test Automation
EANTC develops tailored test automation suites for PoC trials, enabling repeatable and efficient testing. These automated suites can be seamlessly integrated into the operator’s existing test environment, accelerating validation cycles and reducing operational effort.
Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Testing
We conduct extensive PoC trials to validate the functionality, resilience, and protocol compliance of Open RAN interfaces. Our approach includes a holistic evaluation of multiple vendor combinations and system-level performance, helping operators identify the optimal configuration for real-world deployment.
Acceptance Testing
Our field acceptance testing ensures that Open RAN solutions perform reliably at scale. We validate network performance, end-to-end integration with the existing telco infrastructure, and user experience by emulating thousands of mobile devices across multiple cells and radio access technologies. This provides operators with confidence that their Open RAN deployment meets performance, scalability, and service quality expectations.
EANTC O-RAN Test Areas
Conformance and interoperability of O-RU and O-DU open interfaces
Multi-vendor O-RU and O-DU performance validation
Conformance testing of NETCONF in the O-RAN Open Fronthaul M-Plane
Conformance testing of PTP in the O-RAN Open Fronthaul S-Plane
Conformance testing of eCPRI in the O-RAN Open Fronthaul C/U-Plane
End-to-end performance, manageability, and resiliency validation
Automation of Open RAN testing and continuous validation processes
Security testing in line with O-RAN specifications
RIC validation, including xApp and rApp integration
Benefits of O-RAN Testing
Effective O-RAN deployment requires thorough validation to ensure networks perform reliably in diverse environments. EANTC’s O-RAN testing services provide independent, comprehensive insights that help operators and vendors succeed.
Ensure seamless interoperability and quality of experience in multi-vendor environments
Automate testing activities to accelerate deployment cycles
Evaluate vendor solutions objectively and select the most suitable and cost-effective options
Gain visibility into market readiness and guide vendor implementation according to operator needs
EANTC’s independent Open RAN testing empowers operators to adopt disaggregated architectures with confidence. Through comprehensive validation, automation, and field-proven expertise, we help ensure that Open RAN networks deliver performance, resilience, and openness for the 5G era.