PlugFest Fall 2025 @ i14y Lab successfully completed

Bringing together people and players from all over the world, we have successfully finished four scenarios at the i14y Lab for the O-RAN Global PlugFest Fall 2025. The i14y Lab, supported by Deutsche Telekom and EANTC, was one of six labs participating in the joint European venue.

Let's take a look at the successfully completed scenarios.

PlugFest Fall 2025 @ i14y Lab successfully completed

End-to-End (E2E) – Multi-Lab Results Reproducibility

Done in collaboration with SONIC Labs/Digital Catapult, this end-to-end test scenario featured an SRS O-DU/O-CU (srsRAN) paired with two Benetel RAN550 O-RUs, using Viavi as the UE emulator. The testing included a selection of functionality and performance tests outlined in the O-RAN TIFG End-to-End Specifications. We also ran certain resiliency, stability, and scalability tests from the TIP-Open RAN Macro Centralized CU test plan.

The spotlight, however, was on standardized and more advanced fronthaul impairment testing to validate standards-compliant robustness, which will feed back to the O-RAN Alliance standardization process.

These tests were run independently by each lab, and the results will be compared to conclude how reproducible and comparable tests are when run with the same test equipment and SUT by two different, independent labs.

Putting End-to-End Link Stability to the Test

Here we combined the IS Wireless O-CU/O-DU & RIC with the Benetel O-RU to validate the Link Reliability feature in IS Wireless’ 5G setup.

The tests evaluated how enabling or disabling Link Reliability impacts downlink/uplink performance, radio parameters, and data stability—both in static and dynamic (mobility) conditions. Using diverse user equipment (UEs), including a Samsung S23 phone and a T-Systems robot with a Teltonika Router—a cellular router for autonomous robotic vehicle connectivity—the scenario aimed to prove system robustness and consistency.

Network Optimization (RIC) – E2 Interface Compliance & Energy Saving

Towards more energy efficiency in Open RAN, we ran the test to validate AiVader’s Energy-Saving xApp, which was deployed on the open-source OSC Near-RT RIC and integrated with Viavi’s RAN Emulator (AI RSG), communicating via the E2 interface.

We started by verifying E2 interface compliance to ensure correct signaling and message exchange. The expectation here was that the O-DU successfully establishes the E2 connection, the RIC subscribes to KPIs, the O-DU sends periodic reports (e.g., DL/UL PRB usage via E2SM-KPM), and the xApp sends optimized on/off decisions via E2SM-CCC.

The ultimate goal was, of course, to evaluate AiVader xApp's ability to bring down energy use without compromising network stability or efficiency. With E2 compliance being validated, we target real-world energy efficiency gains—paving the way for smarter, greener RAN operations.

O-RU – Open Fronthaul

In this collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz, Viavi, and Andrew (Amphenol), we validated the fundamental functionality and synchronization integrity of the O-RAN Fronthaul interface. This included:

Attesting to the compliance of transmitted and received radio frames with 3GPP specifications,
Verifying strict adherence to the C-Plane (Control) and U-Plane (User) timing requirements as specified in the O-RAN CUS (Control, User, and Synchronization) Specifications,
Confirming the correct handling and reporting of error counters via the M-Plane (Management).

The test specifically focused on phase and time synchronization of Andrew’s Distributed Antenna System (DAS) with the Split 7.2 PRTC (Primary Reference Time Clock), a critical measure to prevent collisions at the TDD UL/DL boundary. This is addressing legacy RF DAS uplink challenges head-on and aiming to confirm the O-RAN FH advantage over traditional analog latency management.

The results

The results presentations for all PlugFest venues of the O-RAN Global PlugFest Fall 2025 will, as always, be available on the PlugFest Virtual Showcase.

The scenarios tested at the i14y Lab can be found in the section for the Joint European PlugFest.

Results at the PlugFest Virtual Showcase

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