Tag: Traffic Steering

Recently, the O-RAN automation market has been shifting toward the SMO/Non-RT RIC solutions. At the same time, due to the complexity of current systems, operators demand dynamic, intelligent, context-aware network automation. According to the O-RAN architecture, this can be realized by dedicated rApps residing in SMO/Non-RT RIC, typically utilizing AI/ML tools. This whitepaper provides an overview of the RAN automation with SMO and rApps. First, the SMO/Non-RT RIC architecture in O-RAN is introduced. It is followed by discussions on two promising use cases of RAN automation: traffic steering and beamforming optimization. The whitepaper addresses both general aspects and the design of related rApps, along with performance results.

In this blogpost we are sharing results of our recent collaboration with VIAVI Solutions on rApps operation under live-network data. We show how we integrated our NDT solution with Viavi's Geolocation rApp, exposing the location-dependent datasets based on real-world network KPI. Having that in place, we put two of our key rApps to the test using real-world network data: COOS-rApp and TS-rApp. The results demonstrate what's possible when the advanced NDT meets real operational data.

This blog details our work on extending Traffic Steering within the O-RAN framework through Hierarchical Traffic Management. We evaluate it in a challenging scenario involving a heterogeneous network with high mobility, where the behavior and service usage of UEs change significantly over time. The use case addresses dynamic network changes, including the appearance of high-priority emergency services like Emergency Special Services and First Responders and a complex denial of service cyberattack during high-demand situations.

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.

This blog post discusses in detail two options for notification of the TS-xApp on the ES actions from the O-RAN specifications perspective. The first option is to utilize the A1 interface to send policies with a “FORBID” clause for cells that will be switched off, to indicate TS-xApp that users should be removed from this cell. The second approach is to utilize the E2SM-CCC, where the TS-xApp listens to the changes in O-CES Management Function.

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.