Nokia and AT&T have collaborated to trial near real-time RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) xApps with the native E2 interface, a first for the industry. The successful trial was implemented on Nokia’s commercial near real-time RIC platform, running on Nokia AirScale base stations on AT&T’s network.
Nokia is the first major RAN vendor to natively support the Open RAN compliant near real-time RIC and the E2 interface for running xApps. The near real-time RIC can optimize services for specific user groups, different frequency layers, or based on Quality of Service (quality of service) Class Identifiers in 5G networks. This is a significant development in the industry as it allows for faster optimization of services and an improved experience for users.
The trial demonstrated that the E2 interface enables RAN policies to be updated several orders of magnitude faster than through legacy OAM interfaces. This unlocks new methods for RAN optimization, which is vital for providing seamless user experiences in the 5G era. Additionally, Nokia’s near real-time RIC platform and xApps can utilize existing interfaces to enable RAN optimization cases that suit the operator networks.
This trial marks a milestone in Nokia’s commitment to providing innovative solutions for the telecommunication industry. Nokia aims to bring capabilities to enable RAN optimization use cases that suit operator networks, and the successful trial are a testament to this goal.
Implementing the near real-time RIC platform and xApps can optimize the delivery of services, resulting in an improved user experience for customers. As the telecom industry continues to expand, the collaboration between Nokia and AT&T provides an avenue for more innovations to improve the industry’s performance.
The need for efficient and effective communication networks continues to grow as the world becomes increasingly connected. The Nokia and AT&T trial of near real-time RIC xApps is a significant development in this area. It promises to optimize services for specific user groups and improve network performance. The native E2 interface enables faster and more flexible updates to RAN policies, leading to a better quality of service for users and more efficient use of network resources.
This trial also highlights the growing importance of Open RAN compliance, which allows for greater interoperability between vendors and reduces the risk of vendor lock-in. Nokia’s support of Open RAN, and the near real-time RIC xApps is a positive step towards building a more open, competitive, and efficient telecommunications industry.
While this trial was conducted on AT&T’s network, it has implications for the industry. If near real-time RIC xApps become more widely adopted, we could see significant improvements in network performance and user experience. As 5G networks continue to roll out and the demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity grows, innovations like this will become increasingly important.
In conclusion, the Nokia and AT&T trial of near real-time RIC xApps is an exciting development in telecommunications. By enabling faster and more flexible updates to RAN policies, it has the potential to improve network performance and user experience significantly. As the industry continues to evolve, companessentialprioritize openness and interoperability, and this trial is a positive step in that direction.
