Special Session 8

Special Session 82023-06-04T13:25:42+00:00

Challenges and solutions for enabling intelligent routing in ORAN using RIC and integrating satellite networks

Thursday, 8 June 2023, 16:00-17:30, Room G3

Session Chair:
  • Ashweeni Beeharee (Satellite Applications Catapult, UK)
  • Juan Macias (Satellite Applications Catapult, UK)

With the realisation of satellite communications mega-constellations, it appears that seamless and ubiquitous connectivity is within the grasps of 6G in the current decade. However, can existing non-terrestrial technology already strengthen the value proposition of O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network) technology?
The O-RAN architecture constitutes the foundation for building the virtualized RAN on open hardware and cloud platforms, while leveraging the power of AI/ML to better manage radio resources. The O-RAN infrastructure, combined with increasing RAN virtualization and data-driven intelligence, will allow complexity reduction, faster innovation and significant decrease in deployment and operational cost. RIC (Radio Intelligent Controller) plays a crucial role in O-RAN architecture, as it allows the management of radio resources by providing real-time intelligence to the O-RAN controller. The integration of RIC in O-RAN has the potential to provide intelligent routing and network management in multi-RAT and multi-vendor environments. This can enable enhanced services and reduce latency; however, this integration also brings challenges such as network synchronization, spectrum management, and security. One of the key security challenges is the protection of RIC from unauthorized access, as it holds sensitive information about the network. Another challenge entails securing the integrity and availability of the RIC data. Finally, ensuring that the RIC is tamper-proof can be also tricky to achieve.

Programme

Content of Special Session:
The Special session will have the format of a panel discussion.
The panel discussion will focus on the challenges and solutions for enabling intelligent routing in O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network), using the RIC (Radio Intelligent Controller) and integrating it with satellite networks.
The panel will bring together experts from industry and academia to discuss topics such as:

  • The potential of using RIC in O-RAN for intelligent routing and network management in multi-RAT and multi-vendor environments.
  • The challenges and opportunities of integrating O-RAN and satellite networks, and the impact on coverage, capacity, and latency.
  • The security and privacy challenges associated with deploying RIC in O-RAN and identifying potential solutions to secure the network.
  • The role of network orchestration techniques in enabling automated and intelligent network management of integrated O-RAN and satellite networks.
  • Highlight the experiences, results and lessons learnt from successful O-RAN deployments.

The panel discussion will provide the attendees with a deeper understanding of the current state of enabling intelligent routing in O-RAN using RIC, and the challenges and solutions for integrating it with satellite networks. Moreover, it will provide the attendees with the information and knowledge to identify potential opportunities, challenges, and solutions to implement these technologies in their network.

Invited Speakers:

  • Nikolaos Tsamperis (ERTICO-ITS, BE)
    • Topic: “Privacy-first Security Enablers for 6G Networks”
  • Alexander Hofmann (Fraunhofer IIS, DE)
    • Topic: “Radio aspects of ORAN/Direct NTN”
  • Arnaud Polster (Accelleran, BE)
    • Topic: “RIC aspects of 5G ORAN systems”
  • Alexandros Mavromatis (University of Bristol, UK)
    • Topic 1: “The role of network orchestration techniques in enabling automated and intelligent network
      management of integrated O-RAN and satellite networks”
    • Topic 2: “Experiences, results and lessons learnt from successful O-RAN deployments”
  • Yogesh Pandey (Capgemini, UK)
    • Topic: “NTN using HAPS in ORAN
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