Catch up: Future RAN competition partnering and networking event

• CSA Catapult - Andy Sellars
• AttoCore - Steve Coppins
• Wipro - Javier Jiminez
• NCC Group - Philip Marsden
• Leonardo - Max Wigley
• Athonet - Nanda Menon
• Zeetta Networks - Vassilis Seferidis
• Manchester Metropolitan University - Sunday Ekpo
• Cradlepoint - Graham Lee
• Electronic Media Services - Stephen Muldowney
• iTrinegy Ltd - Nick Gardener
• University of Bristol: Smart Internet Lab - Reza Nejabati

• Accelerate the development of high-performance 5G Open RAN solutions that meet UK dense urban requirements by 2025. 
• Attract new 5G RAN suppliers to conduct R&D in the UK, and foster professional collaborations between potential new entrants into the UK’s public network. 
• Contribute to the delivery of the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy’s objectives of disaggregated supply chains, open interfaces by default, and security being a priority in network deployment. 

DCMS has worked to define Open RAN functions which will be critical in delivering a minimum viable product. Barriers are grouped into buckets based on functionality in order to be technology agnostic, solution-led and welcome a broad array of submissions. These functionalities are often areas where proprietary solutions have a technical advantage, or the barrier does not exist for them due to the nature of proprietary architecture. Prioritisation was also based on existing market activity. Where there is evidence from DCMS engagement with industry that the barriers would be resolved absent intervention, they have been deprioritised to ensure effective ROI on competition funds. 

The key priorities identified are: 

• Power Efficiency - Power consumption represents a large share of Opex for operators, and Open RAN cannot currently match proprietary solutions for efficiency. This also represents a strategic opportunity for the UK to establish global leadership in an area of priority across 5G. 
• Spectrum Management - This encompasses an array of key capabilities needed for Open RAN to be viable in the UK’s market conditions, including handling new mmWave frequencies and aggregating service across fragmented spectrum bands. 
• Software Platforms - Interchangeability of softwarised solutions is integral to Open RAN architecture. As such, having a common API (Application Programming Interface), operating system, or something analogous to an ‘app store’ from which MNOs could deploy software solutions and applications onto COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) hardware will be critical. 
• Systems Integration - Maintaining seamless interoperability and integration between components from different suppliers in a single architecture will become both more complex and more important with the coming of Open RAN. Developing this capability is particularly relevant from a national security perspective given the lack of onshore skills in this area. 

While these are highlighted as priorities, the competition will welcome applications across the breadth and depth of the RAN, for example: RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) and other management applications, site connection handovers, electromechanical performance, neutral host, and MORAN (active infrastructure sharing) use cases. The competition will use a portfolio approach, ensuring we have a variety of successful bids. 

This competition is open to applications from consortia with two or more members with funding available for activity taking place in the UK. The deadline for applications is Friday 27 August 2021.  

There is up to £30 million of funding available from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport in this competition. Grants ranging from £250,000 to £5 million will be made available to individual projects lasting up to 18 months.