Open RAN and Open Networks in the age of AI native networks
Tuesday, 3 June 2025, 9:00 – 12:30, room 1.D
Organisers:
- Hamed Ahmadi (Univ. York, UK)
- Alister Burr (Univ. York, UK)
- Dimitra Simeonidou (Univ. Bristol, UK)
- Mohammad Shojafar (Univ. Surrey, UK)
Motivation and Background
Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN), and in general open networks promise to significantly enhance hardware and software interoperability and help diversify the supply chain. This is particularly important for future 6G networks, which will support a much wider range of use cases and operating scenarios. O-RAN has also shown a significant potential for embedding AI into networks. It also can facilitate the concept of networks for AI where distributed and heterogeneous AI agents can be connected. This raises important topics like ethics, privacy and energy efficiency of AI over these networks.
This workshop will showcase the research and innovations underway in UK large projects, which are funded as part of the £50M (€60M) FONRC (Future Open Networks Research Challenge), part of the UK Government’s £250M (€300M) Open Networks Research and Development fund, and relevant European and American project. These mainly university-led projects, incorporating both small and large industry, are researching and testing O-RAN and further open network based concepts. They include both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, compatible hardware and software, security aspects, standardisation activities, and novel extensions of open networks from O-RAN for 6G.
In the age of connected AI, the aim of the workshop will be to provide a forum for the UK, European and American based projects to exchange key ideas and ensure that best practice can be utilised. It will act as a basis for future collaboration, harmony and wider exploitation.
Structure
09:00 – 10:30: Session 1: AI in Open RAN and Open networking (chair Dr Hamed Ahmadi)
- Keynote: Enabling an AI-Native Network, Dr Paul Harris, Viavi solutions (30 minutes)
- YO-RAN vision and progress toward AI-native open networks, Prof. Alister Burr (15-17 minutes)
- REASON vision and progress toward AI-native open networks, Prof. Dimitra Simeonidou (15-17 minutes)
- 6G Lab of the North, Prof. David Grace (15-17 minutes)
- AI-enabled Self-organising 6G networks, Dr Ayhan Akbas, Ankara Science University (15-17 minutes)
Coffee break
11:00 – 12:30: Session 2
- Open RAN Digital Twins: Bridging Network Emulation and Open, Programmable, and AI-Driven Wireless Networks, Dr Pedram Johari, Northeastern – DigiRAN project ( 15-17 minutes)
- AI-based Zero Touch Management Systems in the 6G era, 6GXcell, Prof. Johann Marquez-barja, iMec Belgium ( 15-17 minutes)
Generative AI and O-RAN Friends or Foes Structured Panel discussion chaired by Dr Hamed Ahmadi (70 minutes).
Panellists:
- Prof David Grace (YO-RAN)
- Valeria Loscri (INRIA)
- Prof Johann Marquez-barja (6GXcell)
- Dr. Tina Liao, ITRI Taiwan
- Dr Ali Zaidi, University of Leeds.
