Apply Now: SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre Labs Programme

Aims

• The programme aims to create a commercially-neutral and collaborative environment for testing interoperability and integration of open, disaggregated and software-centric network solutions and multi-vendor architectures. It will drive forward the rollout of a new wireless communication technology known as Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN),that enables mobile networks to be built using a variety of different equipment suppliers.

Objectives

• Cohort 6 will address conformance testing, badging and certification of Open RAN systems in line with the following objectives:
  • Enable and encourage innovative suppliers of 5G Open RAN products to participate in the UK telecoms ecosystem.
  • Facilitate a path towards deployment by UK mobile network operators of Open RAN technologies in UK mobile telecommunications.
  • Provide UK mobile network operators (large and small) with a pipeline of innovative, validated and certified suppliers and products to choose from.

Funding Information

• £30,000 for each CU, DU, RIC and outdoor RU product on the cohort, to support your organisation during the ten-month programme (there will be no more than 3 products per vendor i.e. a £90k limit)

Benefits

• Access to Digital Catapult’s commercially-neutral, multi-tenancy open network testbed providing real-world indoor and outdoor scale environments, including test and measurement capabilities
• A place for collaborative, peer-assisted, integration and interoperability testing of products and solutions at a pre-commercial development stage, addressing the challenges of multi-vendor end-to-end solutions
• Exposure to potential clients and key players of the Open RAN ecosystem
• An opportunity to build new collaborative relationships and potential commercial partnerships with different Open RAN vendors and stakeholders
• An opportunity to share learnings and collaborate with other innovators on key Open RAN challenges to help create a more open, competitive and diverse telecommunication supply market in the UK
• An opportunity for continuous programme engagement, by participating in relevant events and connecting with other vendors from previous programmes

Outcomes

• It is envisaged that the outcomes of Cohort 6 will provide UK mobile network operators (large and small) with a pipeline of innovative and competitive suppliers and products to choose from thus facilitating a path towards deployment by UK mobile network operators of Open RAN mobile technologies.

Eligibility Criteria

• This programme is designed for UK and international telecoms vendors with high maturity to deploy Open RAN products and solutions with focus on CU (centralised unit), DU (distributed unit), outdoor and indoor RU (radio unit) and RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) including both Non-RT RIC Applications (rApps) and Near-RT RIC Applications (xApps) components. These components must conform to Open RAN standards and specifications.
• You can apply for multiple components to be considered for the programme, but there is a limit of funding for 3 products/solutions per vendor for this programme. Each CU, DU (including Upper PHY), RIC and RU vendor will receive £30,000 per product/solution. Please note that vendors providing a RIC with accompanying xApps and rApps and DUs with third-party Upper PHY, will be counted as one product respectively.
• If you have taken part in a previous SONIC Labs programme, you are eligible to apply again as long as there are significant new enhancements and maturity to your products used in the previous programmes, and/or you are applying with completely new products.
• Vendors will also be responsible for monitoring the project progress and meeting regularly with the Digital Catapult team to discuss project updates and relevant learnings.

For more information, visit Digital Catapult.