Numerous efforts are currently underway to shape the next generation of wireless networks, involving key players across academia, government, and industry. The anticipated complexity of 6G systems can only be matched by their ambitious goals, such as the native and seamless integration of different communication domains – most notably, terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks – AI-native architectures capable of providing real-time management of networks with an unprecedented level of flexibility and programmability, and new paradigms for security, distributed computing, and spectrum, amongst others.
An innovative approach is therefore required to design and build such a disruptive and complex solution. An approach that is collaborative, open, transparent, and rapidly adaptable. SRS, a key project partner in 6G-LEADER, believes that open-source software (OSS) is essential to transform the current 5G radio access network (RAN) into the agile, secure, open, scalable, flexible, and extensible solution required by 6G and later systems. Unlike closed “black box” implementations, OSS offers transparency and auditability through extensive peer review and rapid innovation cycles. OSS will enable rapid prototyping in the pursuit of credible (pre-)6G blueprints, while democratizing access to the solutions under development.
SRS is aware that this new paradigm poses some very significant challenges in the development of a carrier-grade, secure, and standards-aligned open-source 6G solution. Such development requires the coordinated efforts of academia, government, and industry, while also needing to grow from solid foundations.
For over a decade, SRS has pursued the goal of building the “Linux of RAN”, which SRS will bring to life, together with the partner DeepSig, Inc., under the OCUDU project. OCUDU will provide a scalable, carrier-grade, AI-native, open-source software stack for the RAN by building on the established foundation of the srsRAN Project, for which over 1.8 million lines of high-quality code have been publicly released, fostering a global community of open-source users and contributors. At the same time, the srsRAN code has been deployed to run mission-critical production networks with continent-wide cellular coverage.
The OCUDU project will deliver a complete carrier-grade 5G RAN CU and DU software solution that implements 3GPP Release 17 specifications, and feature an Open RAN architecture according to the ORAN Alliance specifications. The software will feature AI-native RAN capabilities and support deployment on a diverse set of hardware platform configurations, including CPU/GPU combinations for accelerated compute capabilities. It will meet all requirements specified by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) Open RAN Minimum Viable Profile (MVP), as well as other relevant 3GPP features of interest to research, government, and industry. OCUDU will not be limited to any single hardware vendor but will be completely portable across processor architectures, including x86 and ARM, and interoperable with a wide range of third-party 5G core network and radio unit (RU) components. The scalable software will be deployable on platforms ranging from low-SWAP hardware (e.g., portable single-cell solutions) to data-center servers for multicell cloud-native use cases. In addition, it will be tested and validated by industry-respected third-party test partners and commercially deployed in production networks. OCUDU will provide carrier-grade stability and performance while enabling enhanced security scrutiny and faster identification and remediation of vulnerabilities.
OCUDU will ultimately provide a secure, agile, and extensible RAN platform that enables rapid innovation, aligns public and private sector goals, and accelerates the deployment of advanced communications capabilities. It has the ambitious goal of establishing an enduring and self-sustaining open-source project, hosted at the Linux Foundation, that provides the de facto 6G RAN development platform for future 6G and beyond networks across academia, government, and industry.
SRS expects that OCUDU will help SRS expand their leadership in delivering open mobile wireless solutions and strengthen our contribution to cutting-edge R&D initiatives. SRS looks forward to continuing to help define 6G and beyond systems and supporting the incorporation of disruptive RAN solutions to our open-source stack, as part of our fruitful participation in EU-driven research activities. SRS believes OCUDU will provide an essential tool for EU R&D initiatives to boost the development and deployment of 6G and beyond. A clear example of the latter is provided by the 6G-LEADER project, where SRS is helping to design and develop a beyond-5G open RAN solution that supports the transition to an AI-powered, spectrum- and energy-efficient network paradigm. In 6G-LEADER, CU and DU are being enhanced to enable advanced features, including support for RIS-based RUs beyond FR1, AI-driven (quasi) real-time control loops, and semantic-aware communications.
