Tag: ORAN

In the current heterogeneous mobile networks, traffic management is considered one of the key features to efficiently handle non-uniform user data. To realize this, the traffic steering function is employed, whose main task is to allocate users' traffic flows to network nodes or cells. O-RAN ALLIANCE provides means to support traffic steering through the utilization of Non- and Near-RT RIC frameworks and the accompanied rApps and xApps. This whitepaper provides an overview of the traffic steering topic in 5G mobile networks and how it fits into the O-RAN area. This is followed up by example implementations of the Traffic Steering xApp and its utilization for various use cases working in tandems with the corresponding rApps for energy saving and V2X scenarios.

In this blog post, we show how the utilization of both Traffic Management rApp and Traffic Steering xApp could help in V2X scenarios. We also emphasize the use of enrichment information, made available through O-RAN, that suits specifically to vehicular services, such as car platoon geolocation or emergency situation notifications. The flexibility offered by the O-RAN architecture allows for optimized resource management through policy control in companion with EI when dynamic changes occur on the road. This is analyzed within the context of specific O-RAN use cases related to V2X.

Recently, security has been pointed out as one of the critical aspects moving forward within the O-RAN domain. Expanded threat surface, as well as specific security challenges and opportunities, have been identified. This whitepaper provides an overview of security topics in O-RAN, specifically in 5G/6G mobile radio networks. We also consider artificial intelligence embedded in the network edge as a great tool to support security. We present some xApps applied to detect and mitigate example attacks. Conclusions and a discussion on the directions of future developments follow this.

Signaling Storm is a specific case of DoS or DDoS attack identified by the O-RAN ALLIANCE to be addressed by xApps. When firing this kind of attack, devices authorized (or not) to access the network make repeated attempts to connect to the network, "clogging up" the RACH. In addition, due to the multi-stage nature of the hand-shaking procedure, a whole range of redundant control information is generated in the access and core network. It is, therefore, essential to quickly locate the source of this threat and decide to reject the connection request at an early stage of registration. In this blog, we present a signaling storm detection approach and a proposed algorithm to be implemented as an xApp for O-RAN RIC.

The operating patterns of adversaries attacking the open radio interface are complicated and not obvious, e.g., an adversary carrying out a jamming attack may change the attacked band or periodically interrupt jamming. The prospective defense algorithms should be able to not only detect anomalies but also adapt to a variety of attack mechanisms. This can be done by AI/ML methods, which have been researched over the last years. In this post, we present an AI/ML-based jamming attack detection and analysis mechanism for Near-RT RIC.

Deployment scenarios that the O-RAN ALLIANCE specifies, define how to compose the elements of O-RAN architecture in the actual deployment in the network within the cloud and physical locations. One of the key aspects is that the general split from the deployment perspective is the open Fronthaul, with the the separation between O-Cloud deployed entities, and the PNF, for O-RU component. In this blog post, we are providing an overview of different scenarios and deployment options as presented in the O-RAN resources.