5G-CT: Automated Deployment and Over-the-Air Testing of End-to-End Open Radio Access Networks

TL;DR

This paper presents 5G-CT, an automation framework that enables rapid, human intervention-free deployment and over-the-air testing of end-to-end 5G and O-RAN cellular networks, enhancing testing efficiency and reliability.

Contribution

The paper introduces 5G-CT, a cloud-native automation framework based on OpenShift and GitOps, for fast, automated deployment and testing of open-source 5G RAN systems.

Findings

Automated deployment of 5G RAN in seconds

Months of over-the-air testing with software-defined radios

Improved automation and continuous testing capabilities

Abstract

Deploying and testing cellular networks is a complex task due to the multitude of components involved -- from the core to the Radio Access Network (RAN) and User Equipment (UE) -- all of which requires integration and constant monitoring. Additional challenges are posed by the nature of the wireless channel, whose inherent randomness hinders the repeatability and consistency of the testing process. Consequently, existing solutions for both private and public cellular systems still rely heavily on human intervention for operations such as network reconfiguration, performance monitoring, and end-to-end testing. This reliance significantly slows the pace of innovation in cellular systems. To address these challenges, we introduce 5G-CT, an automation framework based on OpenShift and the GitOps workflow, capable of deploying a softwarized end-to-end 5G and O-RAN-compliant system in a matter of seconds without the need for any human intervention. We have deployed 5G-CT to test the integration and performance of open-source cellular stacks, including OpenAirInterface, and have collected months of automated over-the-air testing results involving software-defined radios. 5G-CT brings cloud-native continuous integration and delivery to the RAN, effectively addressing the complexities associated with managing spectrum, radios, heterogeneous devices, and distributed components. Moreover, it endows cellular networks with much needed automation and continuous testing capabilities, providing a platform to evaluate the robustness and resiliency of Open RAN software.