5G O-RAN Base Station technologies

Overview

An emerging 5G network deployment and business model that enables open, virtualised, and fully interoperable RAN, bringing more options for mobile operators.

  • 5G O-RAN Base Station technologies
Technical name of innovation
5G O-RAN Base Station technologies - Ready for new 5G applications
Research completion
Ongoing
Commercialisation opportunities
IP licensing; Technology co-development
Problem addressed

Limited choice of network equipment, high CAPEX and low deployment flexibility of equipment. Network resources not efficiently utilised, affecting user experience.

Innovation
  • O-DU fronthaul interface (between O-DU and O-RU) in 5G O-RAN standard.
  • O-CU and O-DU F1 interface in 5G O-RAN standard. O-RAN F1 interface provides means for interconnecting O-CU and one or more O-DUs.
  • E2 interface (between RIC and O-DU/O-CU) in 5G O-RAN standard enables AI/Machine Learning (ML) to cover non-real-time RIC.
  • 5G FAPI interface between L2/L3 software and L1.
Key impact
  • MNOs can use equipment from multiple vendors and still ensure interoperability.
  • The open environment is widening the ecosystem, expanding the number of vendors, innovations and options available.
  • AI can be introduced to optimise the network for different use cases.
  • New features can be added quickly for end users.
Award
  • 2021 Communication Product Technology Industry Leading Award (COMMUNICATIONSWEEKLY, MWC Shanghai 2021)
  • Certificate of Merit winner of 2021-22 Hong Kong Awards for Industries: Technological Achievement category
  • 2022 the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva – Gold Award
Application
  • Private network
  • Enterprise network
  • Software running on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware
  • Non-real time and real-time RIC

Patent

  • US Patent No. 10,448,432 and CN Patent No. ZL201880000768.5
  • US Patent No. 10,826,529 and CN Patent No. ZL201980000219.2
  • US Patent No. 10,367,594 and CN Patent No. ZL201780000914.X
Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI)

The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competence in various areas is grouped under five Technology Divisions: AI and Big Data Analytics; Communications; Cybersecurity, Cryptography and Trusted Technologies; Integrated Circuits and Systems; and IoT and Sensors. It is applied across five core areas which are Smart City, Financial Technologies, Intelligent Manufacturing, Digital Health, and Application Specific Integrated Circuits.

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