WC Barcelona—Keysight Technologies is collaborating with Intel to advance the development and validation of massive multiple-input, multiple-output (mMIMO) beamforming designs. This initiative aims to facilitate the integration of these designs into Open Radio Access Networks (RAN), thereby speeding up the adoption of Open RAN architectures among mobile network operators, said a statement.
Open RAN architectures distinguish themselves by decoupling software from hardware, utilising open interfaces and virtualisation. This approach grants mobile operators the flexibility to combine network components from various suppliers, potentially lowering costs and enhancing network adaptability, said the company.
Additionally, the adoption of mMIMO technology, which leverages a high number of antennas to transmit and receive data, can significantly enhance network coverage and capacity. Despite the benefits, the implementation of Open RAN and mMIMO technologies poses notable challenges in terms of conformance and interoperability.
Intel said that it has addressed these challenges by integrating its mMIMO digital beamforming solution into a single Intel Agilex 7 system-on-chip field-programmable gate array (SoC FPGA). This solution employs an Open RAN-compliant, weight-based dynamic beamforming method to ensure efficient and high-quality signal transmission through the antenna array.
To ensure seamless deployment within Open RAN networks, Intel said it utilised Keysight's Open RAN Studio for validating the interoperability of its solution within the Open RAN ecosystem. Open RAN Studio has been instrumental in optimising the performance of Intel's mMIMO beamforming technology, which is crucial for handling numerous simultaneous connections and delivering the high data rates required for 5G services.
Open RAN Studio, designed for LTE and 5G Open RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) testing, is equipped with specialised tools for managing Open RAN traffic over Ethernet fronthaul interfaces. This software is a key component of Keysight's Open RAN Architect (KORA) portfolio, which offers a wide range of testing solutions covering functionality, performance, energy efficiency, security, and artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Mike Fitton, Vice President and General Manager at Intel's Networking Business Division, said, “Keysight's support and robust equipment enables our engineering teams to develop and validate O-RAN compliant radios with a wide range of complex functionalities. Through our collaborative efforts, Intel and Keysight are empowering not only emerging but also established radio vendors to channel focus on core innovations in pursuit of providing vendor-agnostic O-RAN equipment within the dynamic landscape of 5G RAN.”
Peng Cao, Vice President and General Manager at Keysight's Wireless Test Group, said, “The successful validation of Open RAN mMIMO technology on Intel's solution is a significant step in the deployment of Open RAN networks. This milestone will help to accelerate the adoption of Open RAN network architectures by validating massive MIMO beamforming technology.”
