Report
The ambitious Liverpool City Region HDD Project aimed to assess how OpenRAN deployments can be secure by design with complex supply chains and changing configurations; demonstrate automated provisioning, monitoring and deployment lifecycle management; extend the RIC framework for multi-RAT aggregation, incorporating Wi-Fi and deliver an innovative approach to xApp and rApp development through simulation and machine learning. These capabilities were validated in live deployments at the ACC Arena in Liverpool and the Salt and Tar event space in Sefton.
The project aimed to support the commitment of global partners Radisys and Qualcomm to accelerate investment in the UK and support ITS and Telet in promoting the adoption of high-performance 5G OpenRAN neutral host networks. The work on the xApps has enabled the Hartree Centre to incorporate OpenRAN concepts in their UK Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning skills training. CGA Simulation and Liverpool John Moore’s University have led this work along with Hartree, a course on xApps was developed and delivered.
The work undertaken during the project has enabled partners such as CGA Simulation to diversify and expand their business offering to include xApp development. In addition to the aims and objectives initially set out that have been delivered through the project we have gained knowledge and experience about the importance of effective partner and supplier collaboration; this approach could be the difference between success, or failure when deploying OpenRAN networks. The learning from the project will be built upon, with ongoing research and development centred on the networks deployed during the life of the project.
