Joint European O-RAN & TIP PlugFest Fall 2022

Coming together for integration

12 days, 14 test scenarios, 18 solution and 7 measurement-equipment providers: That is the tally for the i14y Lab’s contribution to the German leg of the Joint European O-RAN ALLIANCE & TIP PlugFest Fall 2022, co-hosted by Deutsche Telekom, EANTC, and Vodafone at our lab in Berlin between October 24 and November 4, 2022.

The 14 test scenarios included three End-to-End set-ups for multi-vendor integration with functional and performance testing that successfully evaluated for multi-UE and multi-slice scenarios, plus three O-RU conformance test scenarios and six RIC testscenarios.

Extraordinary efforts like that can only by achieved in the spirit of collaboration, which is also central for the goal of a disaggregated future and accelerating market readiness for components. So clearly kudos must be given to our own at the i14y Lab for providing the infrastructure, knowhow, and support to make the tight and quite extensive testing schedule a success. Clearly the experiences gathered at last year’s plug fest helped make this year’s even better.

But the number of test scenarios and contributors also show the importance of coming together. For integration of disaggregated components to succeed and be viable for the market, all those involved have to come together to come to a common understanding. A place is needed for that. The plugfest showed that the i14y Lab is such a place, where you can meet other providers and players from all walks of the industry.

Now the year comes are to a close we can look forward with confidence: More is to come, and we are working hard to accelerate time to market for disaggregated solutions. And we can look back at a year where much has been achieved with a short video recap of the Joint European O-RAN ALLIANCE & TIP PlugFest Fall 2022:

Find the original test scope under call for participation

Full Press Release O-RAN Alliance e.V.

O-RAN Alliance Final Report Plugfest 2022

Update 1

First few days

Although we are only a few days into the PlugFest, several tests have already been completed. Before each completed test and those still on the list, the sense of tension and suspense among those who have worked for weeks on the scenarios and devices that can now finally be tested is palpable. In this, the participants appreciate the extraordinarily collegial atmosphere and the good preparation by the i14y Lab. Joint testing and the chance to meet up in person enable special moments of exchange that remote single tests lack.

Update 2

Going into week 1

The get-together on the evening of October 25th offered the opportunity for meeting participants beyond the work focused on testing and all the detailed technical discussions. In a relaxed atmosphere the engineers met for a drink and Austrian specialties on offer from the food truck. We saw people reunited who had met many times over many projects over the years, sharing their stories, who still could not stop talking about the things that had brought them to the lab this time around. In other words, we could see the Open RAN community alive and well - enjoying their company and never stopping to search for solutions.

We wish all participants great success with their upcoming test cases and we cannot wait to see the final results.

Enjoy some German delicacies, including veggie options and a cool drink on us.

Update 3

Wrapping up week 2

The Joint European O-RAN & TIP PlugFest Fall 2022 is officially one in the books.

This would not have been possible without the support of our consortium members Deutsche Telekom, EANTC and Vodafone, which hosted on our premises here in Berlin.

Thank you to every participating company which sent their technical representatives to meet with us on-site or took the chance to test remotely.

Yours truly,

i14y Lab operations team