In a move to advance Open RAN technology, UK-based tech incubator Digital Catapult has introduced outdoor testing facilities through its SONIC (SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre) Labs programme. The initiative aims to provide a real-world environment for firms to explore the practical value of Open RAN applications.
The SONIC Labs programme, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is now welcoming its first cohort of firms to utilize the outdoor testing site located in West London. Participants, including Accelleran, G REIGNS, LIONS, VVDN, Pegatron, and ALPHA Networks, will assess Open RAN’s performance in outdoor settings to improve its commercial viability.
Testing Open RAN outdoors presents unique challenges such as weather conditions, background noise, and regulatory hurdles. Digital Catapult’s SONIC Labs is designed to address these challenges, offering technical support and collaboration opportunities within the telecommunications ecosystem.
Dritan Khaleshi, Co-Director of SONIC Labs at Digital Catapult, emphasized the importance of this phase: “Granting access to both our outdoor and indoor facilities to the new cohort of vendors, along with technical support and collaboration opportunities, will drive the success of this new phase.”
Lindsey Fussell, Group Director Networks and Communications at Ofcom, highlighted the significance of outdoor testing for the project’s evolution: “This is an important opportunity for companies to test their products in a real-world, outdoor environment, managing the challenges of operating a network outdoors.”
The broader Sonic Labs project, launched in June 2021 with a £1 million budget, aims to boost Open RAN R&D. Despite the modest funding compared to larger vendors, government support through programmes like SONIC Labs plays a crucial role in advancing telecommunications infrastructure.
While Open RAN innovation shows promise, its evolution will be shaped by commercial and practical needs. The future ecosystem of firms emerging from these labs remains to be fully realized. Nevertheless, initiatives like SONIC Labs are pivotal in paving the way for advancements in telecom infrastructure.
