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Operator Certification Requirements: A Pathway to Scalability in Open RAN
Operators

Certification Requirements: A Pathway to Scalability in Open RAN

To give us the operator’s perspective on Open RAN certification, we had Aysenur Senyer (Telefonica), Kaim Munshi (Vodafone), and Petr Ledl (Deutsche Telekom) on stage at the i14y Lab Summit 2024. In the panel discussion moderated by Kristian Toivo (TIP) this group of experienced professionals shared their perspectives on the evolving needs and challenges faced by operators as they strive to implement Open RAN at scale - and the role certification can play in facing those challenges.

 

The dialogue began with Kristian Toivo setting the stage by emphasizing the importance of certification in Open RAN development. While acknowledging that he is not directly an operator, Toivo pointed out his extensive work with operators through TIP, which aims to foster collaboration and standardization in Open RAN and the broader telecommunications ecosystem. The panelists, representing three major European operators, provided a well-rounded view of what certification means to them and how it can accelerate Open RAN’s adoption.

Certification: The Key to Assurance and Efficiency

Petr Ledl, Head of Research and Trials at Deutsche Telekom, kicked off the discussion by reflecting on his involvement with Open RAN since the early days of the xRAN initiative in 2016. He highlighted that one of the primary motivations behind Open RAN’s disaggregated architecture was to introduce flexibility, enabling operators to mix and match different components. However, this flexibility also brought significant integration complexities. Ledl noted that certification is essential to mitigate these challenges, as it offers a level of assurance that components meet specifications, are interoperable, and adhere to performance standards.

 

From an operator's perspective, certification is not just about verifying compliance, but also about creating a common language across the industry. "Seeing is believing," Ledl remarked, underscoring the importance of transparency in certification results. A robust certification framework can ensure that tests conducted in one lab produce results that are understandable and trustworthy to another lab, eliminating redundant testing and building confidence across the supply chain.

Certification: The Key to Assurance and Efficiency
Driving Innovation Through Certification

Aysenur Senyer, Director of Access and Transport at Telefonica, took a broader view, connecting certification to innovation and vendor engagement. She emphasized that certification can streamline interactions with both established and new vendors, making procurement decisions more straightforward. Certification, according to Senyer, allows operators to focus on realistic, impactful testing rather than redoing the same evaluations repeatedly.

 

She also highlighted Telefonica’s pioneering work in disaggregation and cloud-based solutions, noting that standardization and certification play a critical role in supporting these efforts. However, Senyer pointed out that for certification to become truly impactful, it must translate into tangible outcomes, such as being embedded in RFQs (Request for Quotation) and procurement processes. Her challenge to the community was clear: by next year’s summit, the industry should aim to present real-world case studies where certification has made a concrete difference in operational efficiency and deployment speed.

Driving Innovation Through Certification
Streamlining Integration for Faster Deployment

Kaim Munshi, Open RAN Senior Engineer at Vodafone, shared his experiences working on Open RAN integration and deployment in the UK. While Vodafone has been at the forefront of Open RAN implementation, Munshi noted that integration challenges—particularly between the O-RU (Open Radio Unit) and O-DU (Open Distributed Unit)—often lead to lengthy testing cycles, sometimes extending over six months. He argued that a robust certification and badging system could significantly reduce this integration overhead.

 

Munshi proposed that certification could be a way to pre-validate components, making it easier for operators to identify ready-to-deploy solutions without needing to invest heavily in repetitive integration efforts. He also pointed out that certification can help smaller vendors gain visibility and credibility in a crowded market, enabling them to showcase their products to operators with a higher degree of confidence.

Streamlining Integration for Faster Deployment
The Role of i14y Lab in Enabling Certification

All panelists agreed on the need for a neutral entity to facilitate certification and act as a bridge between vendors and operators. In this context, i14y Lab, along with other similar initiatives, was highlighted as a potential leader in creating a unified certification framework. Munshi suggested that i14y Lab could help achieve the industry’s "test once, deploy many" vision by offering a centralized platform where vendors can certify their products in multi-vendor environments.

 

The benefits of such a model are twofold: operators save time and resources by leveraging a single certification, and vendors, especially new entrants, have a structured pathway to validate their offerings and approach operators with confidence. This approach not only streamlines the deployment process but also accelerates the time-to-market for innovative solutions.

The Role of i14y Lab in Enabling Certification
Looking Ahead: A Call for Simplification and Harmonization

The discussion concluded with a consensus that while significant progress has been made, much work remains to be done. Ledl emphasized the need to go beyond the current focus on front-haul integration and tackle other aspects of the Open RAN architecture, such as management and orchestration interfaces. This includes O1 and O2 interfaces for cloud infrastructure management and the introduction of RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs) to support new use cases and services.

 

Senyer, on the other hand, called for a simplification of the certification landscape. Given the complexity of Open RAN’s architecture, the industry must identify key components that can be tested in common environments to reduce duplication and build trust. Such an approach would not only lower barriers to entry for new vendors but also foster greater collaboration among operators.

 

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.