Cooperation is key for successful testing and validation

The i14y Lab Summit 2024 panel “Labs around the globe in global collaboration - what’s been going on and what’s in the works” re-united Maggie Chao, Paul Sludden, Julie Kub, and Katja Henke for a discussion of the current state of lab collaboration in the Open RAN ecosystem.

The focus of this year’s global lab cooperation panel was how collaboration can optimize testing and validation processes and drive the global adoption of Open RAN solutions.

Key Takeaways

The panelists agreed that the industry still faces a major challenge in duplicated efforts in testing and integration, an issue compounded by the growing number of labs and use cases. Each lab runs its own series of tests, often recreating the same scenarios and procedures. This leads to an enormous investment in time and resources for vendors, operators, and labs alike. The solution? Consolidation and alignment.

“And so that would be also a goal (..) for us. That we really define or agree on these use cases and go on exactly as we do: more specification, more feedback…” - Katja Henke

Creating a Unified, Scaleable Framework for Testing

Paul Sludden underlined the need for a “test once, consistent results everywhere” approach - something he knows they all can agree on. This concept involves developing a standardized testing framework that can be applied globally, ensuring that results from different labs are comparable and trustworthy. With a unified framework, vendors would not need to run the same tests repeatedly at multiple labs.

“If we just have four labs doing consistent repeatable testing, that’s not as good as 20 labs or a hundred labs,” Julie Kub added. “The idea is that raising waters raises all ships.”

Such an approach would minimize redundancies and instead scale the process, by allowing labs to focus on specific testing areas, each contributing unique expertise. For example, one lab might handle initial validation, while another conducts more advanced integration tests.

Creating a Unified, Scaleable Framework for Testing

Progress in the Field: Cross-Lab Collaboration

The discussion also featured updates on successful collaborations between labs around the world. For example, the i14y Lab has been working with Sonic Labs and ITRI to create a **shared testing environment**. Instead of duplicating tests, these labs are aligning their procedures, enabling vendors to test once and receive certification from multiple institutions.

“We have signed an MOU and are working together to update the test plan. The next step is that vendors won’t need to do the same testing at each lab. One part will be done at ITRI’s lab, and the other part at Sonic’s lab. We will share the results, and they will get a badge or certification from both labs.” - Maggie Chao

This streamlined process not only saves time and resources for vendors but also provides a cohesive view of a product’s capabilities, making it easier for operators to integrate and deploy solutions.

Progress in the Field: Cross-Lab Collaboration

What’s Next for Global Lab Collaboration?

Looking ahead, the panelists outlined several key areas of focus:

Expanding the Global Testing Network:

Growing the number of labs participating in the unified testing framework is a priority. The more labs adhere to these shared standards, the more valuable the testing and certification process will become.

Deepening Knowledge Sharing:

Sharing learnings and best practices between labs will be critical to improving efficiency and outcomes. This includes standardizing documentation and creating repositories of testing configurations.

Integrating New Use Cases:

With many labs currently testing similar use cases, the next step will be to identify gaps and expand testing into new areas, such as small cell and indoor scenarios, which are of particular interest to operators.

What’s Next for Global Lab Collaboration?

Increasing Operator Involvement:

An operator-centric view will remain a cornerstone of these efforts. Operators’ input will ensure that the testing frameworks are aligned with real-world deployment scenarios and address the most pressing challenges in the field.

By moving forward with these initiatives, the i14y Lab and its global partners aim to reduce fragmentation and make Open RAN a more viable and attractive option for operators worldwide.

You can watch the entire discussion here.

For more information about the i14y Lab Summit 2024 and the other talks and panel discussions, visit our event page.