The News: Vodafone, Cirrus 360, and Intel demonstrated a compute language framework for Open Radio Access Networks (RAN) that automates the process of introducing and running software across hardware from multiple vendors. Read the full press release on the Vodafone website.
Vodafone, Cirrus360, and Intel: Let’s Speak RDSL for Open RAN
Analyst Take: Vodafone, Cirrus360, and Intel are advocating adoption of the RAN Domain-Specific Language (RDSL) across the Open RAN community. RDSL is developed to provide mobile operators with a speedier and more cost-effective way to fine tune software to sync with silicon ships and other hardware that constitute an Open RAN mobile site.
To foreground, the open architecture of Open RAN entails that hardware and software can be supplied from different vendors. These component parts require unimpeded interworking with each other to optimize Open RAN’s energy efficiency, capacity, and performance. This new language can play an integral role in attaining such objectives, advancing an entirely open, interoperable, and virtualized mobile base station.
The code was started through the collaboration sponsorship of the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) and is developed to adopt a dynamic, machine learning (ML) approach to abstraction—i.e., the hardware and software interface. Today, new software is typically optimized over time; RDSL code can enable the abstraction to learn patterns and optimize data movements proactively and more rapidly.
I find it encouraging that the lab results with Cirrus360 demonstrated that the intelligent automated abstraction technique, in contrast with the established static approach, provides less expensive and simpler hardware swaps, better power savings, and increased capacity alongside improved time and resource allocation. 5G network benefits can accrue due to evolutionary progress in silicon and servers across the network edge, which take advantage of vastly improved response times.
For energy efficiency gains, the transition from 4G to 5G ushered in more flexible use of the spectrum supporting multiple different subcarrier spacings that join and mix different bands to produce substantially larger channel capacity (i.e., carrier aggregation). As a result, this capability has also created a high peak to average power ratio (PAPR) issue, especially at higher carrier frequencies. Here is where RDSL can have a positive impact by aiding operators to optimize energy efficiency of their systems.
Vodafone continues to focus on preparing the initial 2,500 sites in the UK designated to showcase its Open RAN bona fides. It is one of the largest global deployments and is being built in accord with key suppliers Dell, NEC, Samsung, and Wind River alongside using new radio equipment from the TIP-sanctioned Evenstar program and Capgemini Engineering and Keysight Technologies support in ensuring multi-vendor interoperability. Now Cirrus360 and Intel are contributing to Vodafone’s goal of ensuring the buildout of its Open RAN network and catalyzing the Open RAN cause.
Key Takeaway: RDSL Ready to Help Advance Open RAN
I believe the trio’s backing of the RDSL initiative provides impetus to Vodafone’s commitment in executing the first commercial deployment of Open RAN in Europe, seeding more large-scale Open RAN deployment across Europe. Strategically, the national governments of the EU and the European Commission have championed industrial and political policies to seed Open RAN with the goal of achieving key objectives such as broader supply chain stability, boosts in domestic employment, and enhanced national security. Vodafone, Cirrus360, and Intel’s backing of RDSL can help accelerate the fulfillment of such strategic goals.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
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Author Information
Ron is an experienced, customer-focused research expert and analyst, with over 20 years of experience in the digital and IT transformation markets, working with businesses to drive consistent revenue and sales growth.
Ron holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from University of Nevada — Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Arts in political science/government from William and Mary.
