Open RAN – Kaj omogoča odprta arhitektura radijskega dostopnega omrežja. (Slovenian)

Radio Access Network (RAN) is becoming increasingly complex due to technological innovations, such as massive MIMO, network slicing, dual connectivity, dynamic spectrum allocation, etc. The complexity of the network is growing also due to the diversity of its implementation, various cell sizes, spatial provisioning, fixed wireless access, and different connection methods. This leads to high investment and operational costs for operators who are coping with the challenges of aligning with the market trends and technological development. Mobile networks are therefore shifting from closed architectures to open radio access networks (Open RAN or O-RAN). The paper analyses the differences between the traditional distributed radio access network (D-RAN) and the centralized radio access network (C-RAN). The modern concept disaggregates the base station, intelligent RAN controller, virtualization and open interfaces. The disaggregation allows separate processing of radio resources and protocol, optimizing the network. The intelligent RAN controller enables programmability, coordination with other networks, and the execution of optimization routines. Virtualization brings the possibility of better resource utilization, while open interfaces enable better connectivity and interoperability between different parts of the network. The paper emphasizes the advantages and disadvantages of ORAN. Advantages include interoperability, open interfaces, virtualization, functional disaggregation, and faster innovation. Disadvantages include complexity, security challenges, and the need for standardization. Despite these challenges, O-RAN promises greater flexibility, better resource utilization, and faster introduction of innovations into mobile networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radijsko dostopovno omrežje (RAN) postaja vedno bolj kompleksno zaradi tehnoloških inovacij, kot so masovni MIMO, rezinjenje omrežja, dvojna povezljivost, dinamično dodeljevanje spektra itd. Kompleksnost omrežja narašča tudi zaradi raznolikosti izvedbe, različno velikih celic, opremljanja prostorov, fiksnega brezžičnega dostopa ter različnih načinov povezav. To vodi v visoke investicijske in operativne stroške za operaterje, ki se soočajo s težavami usklajevanja s tržnimi trendi in tehnološkim razvojem. Zaradi teh izzivov se mobilna omrežja premikajo iz zaprtih arhitektur v odprta radijska dostopovna omrežja (Open RAN ali O-RAN). Članek obravnava tradicionalno porazdeljeno radijsko dostopovno omrežje (D-RAN) in centralizirano radijsko dostopovno omrežje (C-RAN), pri čemer poudarja razlike med njima. Sodobni koncept O-RAN uvaja razčlenitev bazne postaje, inteligentni nadzornik RAN, virtualizacijo in odprte vmesnike. Razčlenitev bazne postaje v O-RAN omogoča ločeno obdelavo radijskih virov in protokola ter optimizacijo omrežja. Inteligentni nadzornik RAN omogoča programsko nastavljivost, koordinacijo z drugimi omrežji in izvajanje optimizacijskih rutin. Virtualizacija prinaša možnost boljše izrabe virov, medtem ko odprti vmesniki omogočajo boljšo povezljivost in interoperabilnost med različnimi deli omrežja. Poudarjene so prednosti in slabosti O-RAN. Med prednosti spadajo interoperabilnost, odprti vmesniki, virtualizacija, razčlenitev funkcionalnosti ter hitrejše inovacije. Slabosti vključujejo kompleksnost, varnostne izzive in potrebo po standardizaciji. Kljub tem izzivom pa O-RAN obljublja večjo prilagodljivost, boljše izkoriščanje virov in hitrejše uvajanje inovacij v mobilna omrežja. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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