The RIC, or RAN Intelligent Controller, is a central software component of the Open RAN architecture

NEC Corporation this week demonstrated multi-vendor integration and interoperability of a Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC). The project involved HCL Technologies’ Bouncer xApp in combination with VIAVI’s new windowTeraVM RIC Test.

The RIC, or RAN Intelligent Controller, is a central software component of the Open RAN architecture. It is a key element in the management of 5G network functions like network slicing, high-bandwidth, low-latency applications, prioritized communications, and more. Both non-real-time (non-RT) and near-RT components manage separate functions of the RAN. The non-RT portion manages events and resources with a response time of 1 second or more. The near-RT portion manages and events and resources requiring a faster response down to 10 milliseconds (ms). The non-RT RIC operates centrally on the operator’s network, while the near RT RIC can be deployed centrally or on the network edge. 

Near-RT events — those events requiring action from 10 milliseconds (ms) to 1 second — are managed by the near-RT RIC, which operates as a cloud-based process on the network edge. The near-RT RIC provides policy guidance back to the non-RT RIC through xApps.

“Near-RT RIC is a key enabler of AI-powered intelligent RANs,” explained Katsumi Tanoue, general manager of vRAN Business Department at NEC Corporation. “Near-RT RIC use cases are growing with advancements in 5G RANs. NEC will continue fulfilling the demands of Open RAN customers by offering mission-critical solutions by integrating NEC’s leading AI/ML technologies and RIC applications including 3rd party xApps.”

The companies claimed that the demo “successfully showcased” multi-vendor Near-RT RIC/vRAN/xApp integration in a way that “align[s] with O-RAN Alliance’s vision.”  

“Infor Near-RT RIC to achieve its full potential, testing is essential to create a repeatable environment in which the RIC and xApps can be trained and validated under different scenarios,” said Stephen Hire, vice president of Wireless Marketing at VIAVI. “This demonstration represented a collaboration of industry leaders in network equipment, software and testing, advancing standardization activities and accelerating deployments.”