Background
Connecting Cambridgeshire, on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council, is leading a consortium of next-generation infrastructure service providers, technology developers, mobile network operators, universities, and market-leading mobile equipment manufacturers to deliver a cutting-edge, multi-vendor 5G Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) platform in Cambridge.
Our consortium is one of 19 successful projects awarded funding by the Open Networks Ecosystem (ONE) Competition, to demonstrate the reliability and feasibility of Open RAN technologies and showcase their role in delivering resilient and future-proofed connectivity to UK citizens and businesses.
The 19 different projects will be initiating trials of ‘open’ 5G networks in major urban centres. These include Bath, Blackpool, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Worthing as well as Cambridge.
Iconic sports and entertainment venues such as Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, the National eSport Arena, Shelsley Walsh motorsport venue and the Cambridge Corn Exchange will all take part.
What is RAN?
RAN stands for Radio Access Network. It’s a crucial part of how your mobile phone connects to the internet and makes calls. Think of it like the bridge between your phone and the wider mobile network. Here’s how it works:
- Mobile masts: These are the antennas you see around your city, town or village. They communicate with your mobile phone.
- Base stations: These are at the base of the mobile masts and handle the radio signals sent to and from your phone.
- Controllers: These manage the base stations and make sure your phone stays connected as you move around.
What is Open RAN?
Open RAN (O-RAN) is a new way of building these radio access networks. The key idea is to open up the technology so different companies can work together more easily. Here’s how it differs:
- Interoperability: Open RAN uses standardised parts that can work together, even if they are made by different companies. It’s like using LEGO bricks from different sets to build something new.
- Flexibility: Because the parts are standardised, it’s easier to upgrade and improve the network. You don’t have to rely on a single company for everything.
- Cost-efficiency: By allowing more competition and innovation, Open RAN can reduce costs. Different companies can offer their solutions, leading to better prices and new technologies.
In simple terms:
- Traditional RAN – In the past, mobile networks were built using equipment from a single supplier. This made it challenging for operators to mix and match components or switch vendors easily – as traditional RAN solutions tend to work with one supplier across one location, this can cause a barrier for smaller emerging companies to break into the mobile network market.
- Open RAN – With Open RAN, the network is built using standardised equipment, including interfaces and protocols. This allows operators to use hardware and software from different vendors that meet these standards. This makes it easier for multiple operators to use the same network – this is because enabling lots of different companies to work together makes the network a lot more flexible. It also encourages innovation and can lead to the adoption of new technologies more rapidly than traditional, closed networks.
In summary, while traditional RAN systems are like having to buy all your furniture from one store, Open RAN is like being able to buy your sofa, table, and chairs from different stores, choosing the best quality and price for each piece. This flexibility leads to more innovation and cost savings in building and maintaining mobile networks.
Project description
- Total project funding from the Department for Science Innovation & Technology (DSIT) plus commercial funding from other investors: £6,523,645 (DSIT) + £2,929,490 (Commercial) = £9,453,135 (Total)
- Location(s) for the main project business – Cambridge (Deployment) & London (Lab Testing)
- Connecting Cambridgeshire partners – AWTG, Benetel, Gooii, Ontix, Wolfram, and the University of Surrey. We are also working closely with the University of Cambridge and Cambridge City Council.
Running until March 2025, the project will deliver a cutting-edge, multi-vendor 5G Open RAN neutral host platform catering for High Demand Density (HDD) locations. The primary objective of this project is to cultivate technical expertise and insights to accelerate the deployment of 5G in similar regions across the UK.
In simple terms, this means the project aims to show how Open RAN can help build mobile networks to deliver reliable connectivity in very busy locations.
The network will serve as a dynamic testing ground to develop and trial enhanced interoperability of hardware and software in HDD environments with the ambition of demonstrating how the implementation costs can be reduced and simplified. The project seeks to stimulate innovation and encourage new players to enter the UK market by proving Open RAN in a real-world HDD test environment. The project team will work in partnership with mobile network operators to deliver these mutual ambitions.
By supporting the development of new software, including xApps, rApps and RIS, to test the optimisation capabilities of Open RAN, integrating devices including radio units into an Open RAN environment – and delivering community-oriented products such as an Augmented Reality experience that will both test the data handling capabilities of Open RAN and support the local tourism industry – the project will support the drive to diversify the 5G Open RAN Hardware and Software supply chain in the UK.
The Connecting Cambridgeshire team is excited to lead this transformative project that will unlock new opportunities, propel innovation, and reinforce the UK’s position at the forefront of Open RAN technology exploration.
Project milestones and updates
Following the official announcement from DSIT about the £88 million research and development boost for innovative connectivity to future proof UK mobile network, the exciting news about our success was also shared on the Connecting Cambridgeshire website.
The full list of successful projects can be found here.
We also appear on the UKTIN website as a project page.
January 2024: Gooii joins the Connecting Cambridgeshire CORE project to develop AR technology for UK’s 5G Open RAN project
Check back for more updates as the project progresses.