Nokia runs successful RAN Intelligent Controller trial over AT&T's 5G mmWave network

Nokia and AT&T have announced a successful limited live trial of the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) over AT&T’s commercial 5G mmWave network in New York City.

Once fully implemented into the network, the RIC platform will enable increased network optimization capabilities through policy-guided, closed-loop automation, says Nokia.

Last year, AT&T and Nokia announced their collaboration to co-develop the RIC software platform, in alignment with the O-RAN Alliance target architecture, to accelerate the creation of open-source software for the 5G RAN.

The intent, the companies say, is to create open interfaces and an open ecosystem of interoperable components that will enable rapid, flexible service deployments and programmability within the RAN. The RIC software is available at the O-RAN Software Community.

For the recent trial, AT&T and Nokia ran a series of external applications, called “xApps,” at the edge of AT&T’s live 5G mmWave network on an Akraino-based Open Cloud Platform. The xApps used in the trial were designed to improve spectrum efficiency, as well as offer geographical and use case-based customization and rapid feature onboarding.

Ultimately, the trial achieved its test goals. Both companies tested the RAN E2 interface and xApp management and control, collected live network data using the Measurement Campaign xApp, the neighbor relation management using Automated Neighbor Relation (ANR) xApp, and tested RAN control via the Admission Control xApp – all with zero interruption to the live commercial network.