AI/ML Enabled Automation System for Software Defined Disaggregated Open Radio Access Networks: Transforming Telecommunication Business

Abstract

Open Air Interface (OAI) alliance recently introduced a new disaggregated Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN) framework for next generation telecommunications and networks. This disaggregated architecture is open, automated, software defined, virtual, and supports the latest advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) Machine Learning (AI/ML). This novel intelligent architecture enables programmers to design and customize automated applications according to the business needs and to improve quality of service in fifth generation (5G) and Beyond 5G (B5G). Its disaggregated and multivendor nature gives the opportunity to new startups and small vendors to participate and provide cheap hardware software solutions to keep the market competitive. This paper presents the disaggregated and programmable O-RAN architecture focused on automation, AI/ML services, and applications with Flexible Radio access network Intelligent Controller (FRIC). We schematically demonstrate the reinforcement learning, external applications (xApps), and automation steps to implement this disaggregated O-RAN architecture. The idea of this research paper is to implement an AI/ML enabled automation system for software defined disaggregated O-RAN, which monitors, manages, and performs AI/ML-related services, including the model deployment, optimization, inference, and training.