We are excited to announce that the xG-ALOE PlugFest, organized in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI and EANTC AG, took place in Berlin from September 29 to October 2.
The event was dedicated to interoperability, accelerating innovation, and fostering collaboration across the O-RAN ecosystem. We look forward to welcoming the industry in Berlin and driving the advancement of open and resilient O-RAN networks.
Over the course of four days, vendors, technology providers, and partners joined forces to validate the latest innovations in O-RAN campus networks. The PlugFest focused on end-to-end solutions across multiple testing domains:
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O-RAN End-to-End Tests (O-RU, O-DU, O-CU, 5G Core)
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Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)
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Localization & Sensing
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Security Testing
A wide range of new O-RAN features will be tested, including link reliability with Failover RU, xApps for RAN attack detection, compact 5G “Network-in-a-Box” solutions with SMO, and software for UE positioning within the cell.
“Testing next-generation networks means more than measuring throughput: by generating, time-stamping, and analyzing Ethernet frames, we gain clear insights into bandwidth, latency, and jitter across diverse setups. As we integrate or remove components such as LiFi, TSN, and 5G/6G core networks, we can observe in real time how these emerging technologies influence SLA compliance and shape reliable, future-ready connectivity,” explains Gabriele Schrenk, Managing Director of EANTC AG.
The first xG-ALOE Plugfest successfully demonstrated the value of collaborative, multi-vendor testing for advancing Open RAN, 5G, and early 6G technologies. Across eight diverse scenarios, participants validated key aspects of network integration, performance, security, and flexibility, while also identifying practical challenges and areas for future improvement. The event confirmed that 5G networks can reliably support advanced Use Cases such as time-sensitive networking, multi-user scalability, and robust positioning services. Novel components, including protocol value grabbers, positioning engines, and networkin-a-box solutions, were functionally integrated, with data flows and interoperability chains operating as intended.
The tests also highlighted the importance of precise time synchronization, the effectiveness of link reliability mechanisms, and the ability of Open RAN systems to maintain stable connections and throughput under realistic multi-user loads.