Cutting-Edge Open RAN Testing Facilities Empower 5G Innovation at North American Universities
Two leading North American universities, Northeastern University and Iowa State University, are pioneering the development and testing of cutting-edge Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) for 5G technology. These universities have established state-of-the-art Open RAN Testing and Integration Centers (OTICs) to foster innovation and collaboration among industry, academia, and government.
Northeastern University’s OTIC, housed within the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things (WIoT), is based in the Boston area. Its mission is to promote research, development, and testing of next-generation intelligent Open RAN solutions. With a focus on multi-vendor interoperability and the validation of end-to-end control logic, the OTIC provides invaluable resources for testing and validating programmable networks, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms.
The OTIC at Northeastern University offers a range of testing equipment and services to validate disaggregated base stations and RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs). These include custom applications known as xApps and rApps. Thanks to the OTIC’s cutting-edge platforms, such as Colosseum, the world’s largest wireless network emulator, complete with hardware-in-the-loop capabilities, researchers can conduct comprehensive tests and trials for multiple Open RAN deployments.
Northeastern’s Open6G is at the forefront of innovation in Open RAN testing, architectures, algorithms, software, and experimentation. Together with our partners, we are creating an innovation and testing ecosystem that will continue to serve government, industry, and academia, says Tommaso Melodia, Director of Northeastern University’s Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things.
In Central Iowa, Iowa State University hosts the North American OTIC at the Center for Wireless, Communities, and Innovation (WiCi). This OTIC takes advantage of the newly deployed ARA rural wireless platform, which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). By integrating O-RAN technologies with agricultural and rural settings and equipment, the ARA-OTIC provides an environment conducive to testing and experimentation.
The ARA-OTIC in Central Iowa boasts an impressive array of wireless equipment, including various long-distance, high-capacity wireless x-haul platforms operating in free space optical, mmWave, and microwave bands. Additionally, it offers advanced wireless access platforms such as low-UHF massive MIMO systems, software-defined radio (SDR), and programmable commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) 5G systems. Furthermore, open-source 5G-and-beyond software platforms are available to integrate modeling and simulation environments, as well as management and decision systems.
ARA-OTIC is fully committed to promoting openness in O-RAN research and innovation by providing a unique platform for testing and development. By offering a wide range of resources and capabilities, including its rural wireless platform, ARA-OTIC facilitates experimentation on O-RAN solutions within real-world contexts, advancing the state of 5G technology.
These North American OTICs bring together leading researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to drive innovation and collaboration in Open RAN technologies. By providing cutting-edge testing facilities, equipment, and services, these universities empower the development of intelligent, interoperable, and programmable networks that will shape the future of 5G technology. With their commitment to openness and collaboration, Northeastern University and Iowa State University are playing a pivotal role in advancing the field of wireless communications and unlocking the full potential of 5G networks.
