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– Contributed by Canonical –

You might recall that we recently announced the beta release of Charmed Aether SD-Core, bringing automation to the Linux Foundation’s open source 5G software-defined core (SD-Core) networking software. SD-Core is distributed by the Aether project and is for anyone who wants to build a private 5G network. Canonical’s Charmed distribution of this software is designed to simplify deployment and operation of mobile 5G networks. In this blog, we’ll run through the benefits of using charms for your Aether SD-Core deployment.

Aether SD-Core: Open source 5G network core for private 5G

SD-Core is built to be deployed and run as a cloud-native 5G core on Kubernetes. With SD-Core, an enterprise can achieve a private 5G deployment, with premium connectivity available for their devices on-site, instead of relying on traditional local area network solutions. What’s more, as free open source software, SD-Core is cost-efficient, and is trusted by the industry.

5G mobile network core: benefits and challenges

The 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)’s service-based architecture for 5G core networks provides flexibility, agility and programmability to mobile core networks, transforming a traditionally monolithic software architecture into a fully modular one. This brings efficiency and cost benefits to an operator. Networks can now be deployed on demand, across a distributed cloud infrastructure, and managed with software that can easily scale based on customer demand and dynamic system conditions.

However, as with any cloud-native software, an operator that adopts 5G core technologies requires a suitable set of tools that can flexibly deploy and manage the complex software that 5G core entails. This is because a 5G core network has multiple software components, such as the user plane function (UPF), requiring their own set of configurations and actions to perform software lifecycle management operations. Whilst automation can help manage a cloud-native 5G core with ease, enterprises do not necessarily have the know-how to operate automation software and manage a dozen complex scripts.

What is Charmed Aether SD-Core?

Charmed Aether SD-Core addresses the challenges faced by enterprises that want to deploy and operate their private 5G networks with ease. It provides simple interfaces and removes the need for the necessary know-how on how to operate a private 5G core network. 

Thanks to Canonical’s Juju orchestration engine, it is straightforward to deploy and run a 5G core network. All the complexity is managed by software operators, meaning that an IT admin at an enterprise can deploy and manage it with a simple set of CLI commands and an intuitive graphical user interface. Supported by Canonical’s proven software automation and orchestration engine Juju, which operates a wide range of open source products today, Charmed Aether SD-Core brings simplicity for private 5G for anyone.

Perfect for a diverse set of edge computing use cases powered by a 5G core network

You can deploy Charmed Aether SD-Core as all-in-one on a single Kubernetes cluster, or as a distributed core with its control and user planes running separately on multiple clouds. Such separation enables a central 5G control plane, whereas the user plane is hosted as multiple separate instances at the network’s edge locations. This capability is excellent for an enterprise with multiple sites, each of which benefiting from hosting their own data processing at the edge, for on-site edge computing applications.

See Charmed Aether SD-Core in action at Ubuntu Summit 2024

Charmed Aether SD-Core is fully automated and easily consumable by anyone who has a CNCF compliant Kubernetes running, such as Canonical Kubernetes. At this year’s Ubuntu Summit, we will demonstrate it on COTS hardware on-site, along with a software-defined radio with an open source radio stack. This will showcase how one can leverage open source in telecommunications to build an end to end 5G network on equipment they can run anywhere.

“We are excited about this live demonstration of Charmed Aether SD-Core which combines Aether SD-Core, a scalable open source cloud native mobile core for Private 5G deployments with Canonical’s powerful orchestration engine,” said Larry Peterson, Aether TST Chair. “Charmed Aether SD-Core simplifies the operation of a Private 5G, enabling enterprises to efficiently host their own edge applications.”

Run your private 5G core network at a lower cost

You may be a software developer working on a new application that could benefit from 5G, or a telecom specialist or network engineer building a new system that needs mobile connectivity. You may be a member of technical staff at an enterprise, looking into deploying and testing available open source solutions for a cost-effective private mobile network. 

Whatever your reason for exploring private 5G networks, Charmed Aether SD-Core is a free open source software that is available as beta. We have documentation pages providing you with tutorials and how-to guides that will help you on your way to cloud-native private 5G. You can test Charmed Aether SD-Core with open source radio and user equipment (UE) software simulators already, but check your country’s regulations and see if you can get a shared spectrum license for research and development purposes. Most agencies already support this at a very low cost today.

If you are curious about 5G and would like to test Charmed Aether SD-Core on your own CNCF compliant Kubernetes, such as Canonical Kubernetes, you can deploy and try it today and give us your feedback.

 

– Contributed by Rimedo Labs –

Rimedo Labs is working with The Linux Foundation (LF) to help harmonize open source for Open RAN.

SMO, Non-RT RIC, and Near-RT RIC are key components of the O-RAN architecture, and open source implementations of these functions have become a driving force in fostering innovation and technological advancements in areas such as xApp/rApp development, testing, interoperability, portability, and security. Today’s Open RAN ecosystem offers several open source options for these components (from organizations such as LF, OAI, ONF, and OSC). While it is exciting to see all the various components become available, this can create confusion for developers assembling an open-source stack for their work.

Rimedo Labs is happy to share that we are working with these organizations to do a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of these different open source RICs to help the industry understand the spectrum of open source offerings and with the hope of promoting greater alignment and possible consolidation to help build critical mass behind a de facto open RAN stack.

The Linux Foundation (LF) is in the process of helping the community evaluate multiple options for SMO and the RICs, aiming to eliminate redundant work and focus the community’s efforts on the most promising solutions. The evaluation’s objective is to determine whether the community should concentrate on a single project, support multiple projects (because their focus is complementary), or even merge projects if that proves to be the best approach. An LF-led steering team has been formed and is undertaking this responsibility, carefully considering various options for this evaluation. Subsequently, Rimedo Labs has been engaged to conduct an independent technical evaluation of the different SMO and RIC options and to provide recommendations in close collaboration with the steering team driving this effort.

Rimedo Labs specializes in providing high-quality consulting, implementation, and R&D services in modern wireless systems, with a current focus on O-RAN, 5G, and beyond. As an O-RAN software provider, Rimedo Labs delivers customized xApps and rApps for RAN Intelligent Controllers, backed by extensive experience with both open-source and commercial RICs. Rimedo Labs has been a long-term collaborator with Open Networking Foundation (ONF)/Aether 5G, contributing to numerous proof-of-concept studies under the SMaRT-5G and previously SD-RAN initiatives.

Stay tuned for more updates later this year!

Sarat Puthenpura, Chief Architect of Open RAN for Aether, has recently published an article on RCR Wireless News about the work being done with Aether’s SMaRT-5G initiative to research solutions to energy efficiency and energy savings for 5G. Sarat will also be speaking at the upcoming Open RAN Global Forum. | Read the article