Towards AI Powered and Secure Carrier-Grade Open RAN Platform

Partners

Microsoft UK, Intel R&D UK Ltd., Capgemini, The University of Edinburgh

Advances in cloud technology for the edge can enable next-generation telecoms networks that will not only improve connectivity but also create significant economic opportunities by enabling new UK innovations.

Cloud technologies provide the tools necessary to manage highly secure virtualized and disaggregated networks at scale. Furthermore, the AI/ML compute capabilities inherent in the cloud will be instrumental in optimising performance, improved management, and detecting anomalies across various disaggregated RAN components. Cloud technology also accelerates security innovation and will be proven through industry adoption of best practices and capabilities for security.

The combination of Open RAN and edge computing brings an opportunity to create customised interactions between the RAN and applications through slicing and beyond, enabling new 5G applications and services, such as AR/VR, manufacturing, and gaming. The extensive developer ecosystem can also leverage cloud APIs to reap the benefits of programmable networks promised by the Open RAN architecture.

This project is realising a carrier-grade cloud solution, enabling operators to deploy Open RAN network functions easily and securely, with a focus on lowering the barrier to entry for new entrants. This is being achieved through the development of AI/ML-based analytics to lower the cost of operations and further enable operators to benefit from programmable networks.

Project Overview from Innovation Briefing Issue 8

Mobile networks are now too complex for operators to be sure that manual control of the network provides the best experience for the customer.  Open RAN adds modular components, often from multiple vendors, so the difficulty of managing the network increases further.

This project uses artificial intelligence and machine learning, along with the latest advances in cloud technology to optimise the network more efficiently.

The ‘Towards AI Powered and Secure Carrier-Grade Open RAN Platform’ (TAPSCORP) consortium brings together Metaswitch, which was acquired by Microsoft in July 2020, Intel R&D, Capgemini and the University of Edinburgh.

Machine learning algorithms can dynamically configure next-generation telecoms networks in a way that will not only improve connectivity but also create significant economic opportunities, enabling new UK innovations.

The AI compute capabilities acessable in the cloud are capable of optimising performance, improved management, and detecting anomalies across various disaggregated RAN components.

The virtualisation of cloud technologies provides higher levels of security and the ability to scale required for the large disaggregated networks deployed by national carriers.

The combination of Open RAN and edge computing brings an opportunity to create customised interactions between the RAN and applications through slicing and beyond, enabling new 5G applications and services, such as augmented and virtual reality , manufacturing, and gaming. The extensive developer ecosystem can also leverage cloud APIs to reap the benefits of programmable networks promised by the Open RAN architecture.