Skip to main content
search
Category

Blog

Apr 16

Ease of Use Developing with Aether SD-RAN

By Blog

This is the fifth blog in a series of weekly posts that focuses on highlights from the “Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0” report by Rimedo Labs.

Introduction

For developers working on Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) solutions, the ease of use of a Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) can significantly impact development efficiency, xApp creation, testing, debugging, and deployment. A well-designed Near-RT RIC should provide clear documentation, streamlined development and troubleshooting tools, and robust support for onboarding new developers.

This blog post focuses on the developer experience and ease of use of Aether SD-RAN, an open-source Near-RT RIC built with modern development practices and cloud-native principles. The insights presented here are based on Section 5.5 of the ‘Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0’ report by Rimedo Labs. For those interested in comparisons across other Near-RT RIC implementations, the full report provides additional context.

Key Factors Affecting Developer Experience

Aether SD-RAN stands out in its developer-friendly design, offering:

  • Structured and Evolving Documentation: Guides for installation, xApp development, and architecture.
  • Modular xApp Development: Microservice-based approach with well-defined interfaces.
  • Comprehensive Tooling and Debugging: Built-in observability using gRPC tracing and logs.
  • Kubernetes-Native Deployment: Simplifies orchestration, scaling, and management.
  • Engaged Community Support: Backed by the Linux Foundation ecosystem, with active collaboration.

Let’s explore how each of these contributes to a productive development experience.

Documentation and Learning Curve

Aether SD-RAN provides structured documentation that continues to evolve. It caters to both newcomers and advanced developers, helping them:

  • Understand the architecture and components.
  • Follow step-by-step guides for installation and configuration.
  • Develop and deploy xApps efficiently with sample workflows and code references.

This approach significantly reduces the onboarding time for new developers.

Ease of xApp Development

Aether SD-RAN simplifies xApp development through its modular and microservice-oriented architecture. Developers benefit from:

  • Clear and consistent APIs.
  • SDKs that abstracts the infrastructure complexity simplifying understanding.
  • Defined workflows for xApp registration, communication, and scaling.

This design makes it easier to focus on business logic and innovation without being burdened by low-level implementation concerns.

Tooling, Debugging, and Observability

Efficient debugging and monitoring are essential for developing stable xApps. Aether SD-RAN includes:

  • gRPC tracing for service communication insights.
  • Structured logging mechanisms.
  • Integration with observability tools for monitoring cluster health and xApp behavior.

These tools provide developers with the visibility needed to quickly identify and resolve issues, accelerating the development lifecycle.

Ease of Deployment and Orchestration

Built with Kubernetes-native deployment, Aether SD-RAN offers:

  • Helm charts for streamlined installation and updates.
  • Automatic scaling of xApps and RIC components based on traffic or resource usage.
  • Recovery and self-healing capabilities to restart failed components and maintain system integrity.
  • Compatibility with cloud-native CI/CD workflows, allowing automated build, test, and deployment of xApps and RIC components using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or ArgoCD. This enables fast iteration, version control, and seamless integration into modern DevOps pipelines.

These attributes make it easy to test locally and scale in production, enabling developers to move seamlessly from development to deployment.

Community Support and Engagement

Aether SD-RAN benefits from being part of the Linux Foundation ecosystem, which brings:

  • Regular collaborative community meetings and updates.
  • Open-source collaboration via GitHub.
  • Channels for submitting issues, sharing ideas, and contributing to the codebase.

This supportive environment ensures developers aren’t working in isolation and have access to peer feedback and guidance.

Conclusion

Aether SD-RAN offers a modern and developer-friendly experience for those building and deploying xApps in O-RAN environments. With its structured documentation, modular architecture, powerful debugging tools, and native cloud orchestration, it lowers the barrier to entry and supports rapid innovation.

As the O-RAN ecosystem grows, enhancing the developer experience will be key to accelerating adoption. Aether SD-RAN is already ahead in this area, making it an attractive choice for development teams.

For More Information

Apr 10

GS Lab | GAVS and Aether: Spearheading 5G Innovation Across Industries

By Blog

Contributed by GA Lab | GAVS

The world is rapidly embracing 5G, and with it, a wave of transformative use cases is emerging, promising to reshape industries and redefine connectivity. At GS Lab | GAVS, we are not just witnessing this revolution; we are actively driving it, leveraging the power of open-source private 5G technology to deliver cutting-edge solutions that empower our customers to lead in this new era. Our solution of choice? Aether.

GS Lab | GAVS: Architects of Digital Transformation

GS Lab | GAVS stands as a vanguard in technology solutions, specializing in digital transformation, cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Our core mission is to empower businesses across diverse industries to not only achieve but exceed their strategic goals through innovative and impactful solutions. We forge deep partnerships with our clients, immersing ourselves in their unique challenges and aspirations. Our expertise spans the entire technology spectrum, from strategic consulting and solution design to seamless implementation and ongoing management. We are committed to delivering tangible business outcomes, driving efficiency, fostering growth, and enabling our clients to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and competitive world.

Why Open Source and Why Aether?

In a world often dominated by proprietary technologies, we champion the power of open source. We firmly believe that open-source solutions like Aether offer unparalleled flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and a dynamic engine for community-driven innovation. Aether, in particular, has distinguished itself as a powerful platform, and our confidence in it stems from its:

  • Cloud-native architecture: Aether’s cloud-native design aligns perfectly with our focus on delivering modern, scalable solutions that seamlessly integrate with cloud environments.
  • 3GPP compliance: Aether’s adherence to 3GPP standards ensures seamless interoperability and future-proof deployments, protecting our clients’ investments and enabling them to adapt to evolving industry standards.
  • End-to-end solution: Aether provides a comprehensive 5G network stack, significantly simplifying the complexities of deployment and management, and accelerating time to value for our customers.
  • Strong community support: The vibrant Aether community provides a wealth of resources, fosters collaboration, and ensures continuous innovation, empowering us to deliver best-in-class solutions.

Deploying Aether: Our Tailored Approach

We adopt a flexible and adaptable approach to Aether deployment, meticulously tailoring each solution to the unique needs and specific challenges of every use case. Our deployments span a wide range, from on-premises installations that provide dedicated, localized networks, to cloud-hosted solutions that leverage the scalability and reach of major cloud providers. Furthermore, we strategically leverage both commercial and open-source hardware and software components, enabling us to optimize performance, cost-efficiency, and scalability, ensuring that each customer receives a solution that is perfectly aligned with their objectives.

Deploying Aether with True CUPS Architecture

GS Lab | GAVS has successfully pioneered the deployment of Aether using the True CUPS (Control and User Plane Separation) architecture. This strategic approach empowers us to leverage best-of-breed hardware and software components for each specific network function. 

We have deployed Aether on both AWS and GCP, providing our customers with the flexibility to harness the power of their preferred cloud platform. Our deployments adhere to the functional CUPS architecture, where the control plane and user plane are logically separated, allowing for independent scaling and management.

The deployment of Aether with True CUPS architecture delivers a multitude of compelling benefits:

  • Unrivaled Flexibility and Scalability: The True CUPS architecture grants us the agility to mix and match hardware and software components from a diverse range of vendors. This empowers our customers with an extensive array of options, enabling them to precisely tailor their 5G networks to meet their unique and evolving requirements.
  • Enhanced Performance and Reliability: By separating the control plane and user plane, we can optimize each component for its specific function. This targeted optimization results in a significant boost in overall network performance and an unparalleled level of reliability.
  • Simplified and Streamlined Management: The True CUPS architecture streamlines network management by providing a centralized control plane that offers comprehensive oversight of the entire network. This centralized approach simplifies monitoring, accelerates troubleshooting, and facilitates seamless scaling, significantly reducing operational complexity.
  • Optimal Cost-Effectiveness: By strategically leveraging open-source software and disaggregating hardware and software components, we deliver Aether deployments that are not only cost-effective but also maintain uncompromising levels of performance and a rich feature set.

Our team possesses deep expertise and extensive experience in deploying Aether with True CUPS architecture on both AWS and GCP platforms. We collaborate closely with our customers, taking the time to understand their unique needs, challenges, and aspirations. This collaborative approach allows us to meticulously tailor our deployments, ensuring that the final solution delivers optimal performance, seamless scalability, and a tangible return on investment.

If you are interested in exploring the transformative potential of Aether and the benefits of True CUPS architecture, we invite you to connect with our team of experts. We are eager to discuss your specific requirements in detail and provide tailored guidance on the most effective deployment strategy for your organization.

Aether in Action: Real-World Use Cases

We’ve harnessed the power of Aether to drive 5G innovation across a diverse range of industries, delivering tangible results for our clients. Here are a few examples of how we’re putting Aether into action:

  • University Campus Transformation: We deployed Aether for a prominent US university, creating a cutting-edge private 5G network that seamlessly supports BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). This deployment has resulted in:
    • Enhanced Connectivity: Students and faculty now enjoy seamless, high-speed internet access across the entire campus, empowering them with ubiquitous connectivity.
    • Improved Campus Security: The network’s advanced security features, including comprehensive video surveillance and robust access control, have significantly enhanced the safety and security of the campus environment.
    • Seamless IoT Integration: The 5G network seamlessly integrates with a wide range of IoT devices, enabling the development and deployment of innovative smart campus applications that enhance the learning and living experience.
  • Manufacturing Industry Efficiency: In a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, Aether is the backbone of a private 5G network that is revolutionizing operations:
    • Real-time Video Monitoring: High-definition video feeds from IoT cameras provide enhanced monitoring and security, enabling proactive identification of potential issues and ensuring a safe working environment.
    • Industrial Automation: The network’s reliable, low-latency connectivity is critical for supporting advanced industrial control systems, enabling precise and efficient automation of manufacturing processes.
    • Data-Driven Optimization: The 5G network facilitates the efficient collection and analysis of vast amounts of data, providing valuable insights that drive improved operational efficiency, optimize production workflows, and enhance decision-making.
  • Connectivity in a Public Park: We built a private 5G network in a public park that previously lacked adequate public operator coverage. This initiative has provided:
    • Universal Internet Access: Park visitors can now enjoy high-speed internet access for recreational and educational purposes, transforming the park into a digital hub.
    • Empowered Park Services: Park staff can leverage the network for enhanced communication, improved security, and streamlined operational tasks, leading to a more efficient and well-managed park environment.
    • Environmental Insights: The network enables the deployment of a network of sensors for comprehensive environmental monitoring and data collection, providing valuable data for sustainability initiatives and informed decision-making.
  • Enhanced VoIP Services: For a leading VoIP service provider, Aether has enabled a new level of communication excellence:
    • Crystal-Clear Voice Calls: The private 5G network delivers unparalleled voice quality and ultra-low latency, ensuring superior call experiences for users.
    • Increased Capacity and Reliability: The network supports a significantly larger number of concurrent calls, guaranteeing reliable service even during peak usage periods and mission-critical communications.
    • Seamless Mobility: Users can experience uninterrupted, high-quality calls as they move around, thanks to the network’s robust mobility features and seamless handovers.

Shaping Aether’s Future: A Collaborative Vision

GS Lab | GAVS is not just a user of Aether technology; we are deeply committed to actively contributing to its evolution and shaping its future. We firmly believe in the power of collaboration and actively engage with the Aether community to:

  • Enhance Aether’s Capabilities: We contribute our expertise to the development of new features and functionalities, with a particular focus on enhancing security mechanisms and enabling advanced network slicing capabilities.
  • Simplify Deployment: We are dedicated to streamlining and simplifying the deployment process, making Aether more accessible and user-friendly for a wider audience, including enterprises with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Expand Industry-Specific Solutions: We actively develop and share industry-specific blueprints and solutions based on Aether, providing practical guidance and accelerating adoption across various sectors.

At GS Lab | GAVS, Kunal Kapoor and Amit Wankhede are actively involved in these use cases, working to ensure that Aether continues to evolve and effectively meet the dynamic needs of businesses across various sectors.

By combining GS Lab | GAVS’s deep expertise in 5G technologies with the power and flexibility of Aether, we are empowering businesses to unlock the full potential of 5G and drive unprecedented innovation across industries. We are proud to be an active and contributing member of the Aether community, and we are committed to shaping the future of open-source 5G technology. Check out GS Lab | GAVS website for more information.

Apr 09

Scalability in Aether SD-RAN: Cloud-Native Growth for O-RAN Deployments

By Blog

This is the fourth blog in a series of weekly posts that focuses on highlights from the “Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0” report by Rimedo Labs.

Introduction

As Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) deployments expand, the ability of Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controllers (Near-RT RICs) to scale efficiently becomes crucial. Scalability determines how well a Near-RT RIC can accommodate growing numbers of E2 nodes, xApps, and control loops without performance degradation. Ensuring that a Near-RT RIC can handle large-scale deployments while maintaining low latency and reliability is a key factor in real-world implementations.

This blog post explores the scalability aspects of Aether SD-RAN, an open-source Near-RT RIC framework designed for cloud-native scalability and operational efficiency. For those interested in a comparative analysis of multiple Near-RT RIC implementations, refer to the ‘Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0’ report by Rimedo Labs.

Key Factors Affecting Aether SD-RAN’s Scalability

Aether SD-RAN is built with the following scalability attribute priorities in mind:

  • Efficient E2 Interface Load Management
  • Dynamic xApp Deployment and Lifecycle Control
  • Resource Efficiency and Adaptability Under Variable Load
  • Native Cloud Orchestration and Automation

Each of these areas ensures that Aether SD-RAN can evolve and expand with the needs of modern O-RAN deployments without compromising responsiveness or reliability.

Handling Large-Scale E2 Interface Load

The E2 interface is fundamental to Near-RT RIC scalability, enabling real-time communication with RAN components. Aether SD-RAN employs an efficient gRPC-based E2 message handling architecture, which supports the management of a large number of concurrent E2 nodes while maintaining low latency.

This architecture ensures responsiveness, even when processing thousands of messages per second – making Aether SD-RAN well-suited for high-density, large-scale networks.

Scalable xApp Management

Aether SD-RAN supports a microservice-based xApp architecture, allowing each xApp to be developed, deployed, and managed independently. The system enables:

  • Concurrent operation of multiple xApps without contention.
  • Kubernetes-native deployment, which facilitates dynamic scaling.
  • Helm-based configuration for reproducibility and ease of automation.

This level of modularity ensures that operators can extend functionality as needed, without impacting system stability or performance.

Resource Utilization and Performance at Scale

Aether SD-RAN is optimized for efficient CPU and memory usage, and adapts as workloads increase. As the number of E2 nodes and xApps grows, Aether SD-RAN maintains:

  • Stable resource consumption curves, reducing the risk of bottlenecks.
  • Predictable performance, even in resource-constrained environments.
  • Integrated monitoring and observability tools, such as Prometheus exporters, to track key metrics in real time.

These features enable confident scaling in both central and edge deployments.

Orchestration and Automation for Dynamic Scaling

Built with cloud-native principles, Aether SD-RAN integrates deeply with Kubernetes and Helm to support automated scaling. Key benefits include:

  • Self-healing capabilities, ensuring service continuity.
  • Dynamic load balancing and container orchestration.
  • Blueprints and tools like Aether OnRamp, which simplify multi-node, multi-site deployments.

These orchestration features make Aether SD-RAN adaptable for a wide range of deployment scenarios, from lab testing and research to full production environments.

Conclusion

Aether SD-RAN demonstrates a scalable, efficient, and cloud-ready approach to deploying Near-RT RICs in O-RAN environments. Its use of gRPC for message handling, microservice-based xApp design, efficient resource utilization, and Kubernetes-native orchestration make it ideal for operators aiming to scale intelligently and reliably.

As O-RAN continues to expand into production-grade networks, scalability will remain a defining factor in adoption. Aether SD-RAN is built from the ground up to meet this challenge.

For More Information

Apr 02

Delivering Stability and Reliability in Aether SD-RAN

By Blog

This is the third blog in a series of weekly posts that focuses on highlights from the “Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0” report by Rimedo Labs.

Introduction

Stability and reliability are critical factors in the deployment of Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controllers (Near-RT RICs) in Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) environments. As networks grow in complexity, the ability of Near-RT RIC implementations to maintain consistent performance under a wide range of conditions while ensuring predictable operational continuity is essential for real-world deployments.

This blog post highlights the stability and reliability aspects of Aether SD-RAN, a leading open-source Near-RT RIC implementation. The insights presented here are informed by Sections 5.2 and 5.3 of the ‘Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0’ report by Rimedo Labs. Readers interested in a comparative analysis of multiple Near-RT RIC frameworks can refer to that document for additional context.

The Importance of Stability and Reliability in O-RAN

A Near-RT RIC should be designed to:

  • Maintain steady performance under varying network conditions without excessive fluctuations.
  • Ensure resiliency against failures, including xApp crashes and E2 node disconnections.
  • Recover from failures quickly and automatically without manual intervention.
  • Maintain predictable system behavior over extended operations.

Stability ensures that a Near-RT RIC can operate consistently over time, while reliability guarantees that it can recover from failures and restore normal  functioning with minimal downtime.

Aether SD-RAN: Built for Stable and Reliable Operations

Handling E2 Interface Traffic Under Load

The E2 interface plays a pivotal role in maintaining stability by efficiently processing high-frequency indication messages and control requests between the Near-RT RIC and E2 nodes. Aether SD-RAN is designed with scalability and efficient load handling in mind, providing predictable performance and adapting as message rates increase or decrease.

This design makes Aether SD-RAN suitable for demanding and dynamic network environments, where consistent latency and high throughput are essential.

Optimized Resource Utilization

Aether SD-RAN demonstrates strong stability over extended periods due to its optimized resource allocation mechanisms. Whether under light or heavy traffic conditions, Aether SD-RAN maintains predictable CPU and memory usage, ensuring that the system does not degrade over time or under pressure.

This efficient resource management is especially important in edge or distributed deployments, where hardware resources may be constrained.

Robust Auto-Recovery Mechanisms

For system reliability it is essential that the platform recover automatically and seamlessly from failures. Aether SD-RAN features robust recovery mechanisms including:

  • Auto-restart crashed xApps and core platform services.
  • Restore E2 connectivity quickly and efficiently without manual intervention.
  • Contain and mitigate the effects of malfunctioning components, isolating faults and mitigating their impact on system operations .

These capabilities contribute to high service availability and reduce operational overhead for network administrators.

Automated Resource Control and Protection

To mitigate system instability due to misbehaving or resource-intensive xApps, Aether SD-RAN includes built-in mechanisms for automated resource control. These safeguards:

  • Set memory and CPU limits per xApp, that could affect performance degradation.
  • Monitor resource usage in real time, initiating proactive intervention measures.
  • Maintain predictable resource behavior, to ensure consistent performance and service quality.

By continuously observing real-time metrics (e.g., CPU load, memory footprint, I/O activity), Aether SD-RAN can trigger alerts or automated actions – such as throttling a misbehaving xApp, restarting it, or adjusting resource allocations – to maintain system health. This approach ensures early detection of anomalies and helps operators address problems before they impact service availability or performance.

These features enable Aether SD-RAN to deliver stable performance across diverse workloads and without manual intervention.

Conclusion

Aether SD-RAN is a stable and reliable Near-RT RIC platform built for real-world O-RAN deployments. With its ability to handle high E2 traffic loads, maintain consistent resource usage, recover automatically from failures, and protect against system overload, it provides a strong foundation for intelligent and scalable RAN control.

As O-RAN continues to accelerate traction, the ability to ensure predictable performance, minimal downtime, and robust fault recovery is critical. Aether SD-RAN’s design and engineering principles were designed from the ground up to address these needs, making it a compelling choice for operators and developers focused on stability and reliability.

For More Information

Mar 26

Ensuring O-RAN Compliance with Aether SD-RAN

By Blog

This is the second blog in a series of weekly posts that focuses on highlights from the “Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0” report by Rimedo Labs.

Introduction

The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture is built on the principles of openness, interoperability, and vendor neutrality. Compliance with O-RAN specifications is essential to ensuring that different network components seamlessly integrate within multi-vendor environments. The Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) plays a crucial role in this ecosystem, facilitating intelligent control over RAN operations within a latency range of 10 milliseconds to one second.

One of the leading open-source implementations of Near-RT RIC is Aether SD-RAN, a cloud-native and modular framework originally developed by the Open Networking Foundation (ONF) and now part of the Linux Foundation. Aether SD-RAN is designed to adhere closely to O-RAN standards, enabling smooth integration with standardized interfaces, compliance with E2 Service Models (E2SMs), and robust security features. This blog post highlights Aether SD-RAN’s approach to O-RAN compliance and how it ensures seamless interoperability, security, and standardization.

O-RAN Compliance in Aether SD-RAN

Aether SD-RAN is built with compliance at its core, ensuring that all essential O-RAN interfaces and functions are properly implemented. Below, we explore its adherence to key O-RAN specifications.

Standardized Interface Support

O-RAN defines a set of critical interfaces that enable interoperability between Near-RT RIC and other network components. Aether SD-RAN provides robust support for these interfaces:

  • E2 Interface – Enables direct communication between the Near-RT RIC and O-RAN CUs/DUs, facilitating real-time network control.
  • A1 Interface – Allows integration with the Non-RT RIC for policy-driven network management and AI-based optimizations.
  • O1 Interface – Provides Operations, Administration, and Management (OAM) capabilities for configuring and monitoring network performance.
  • Y1 Interface – Supports data exchange for advanced network analytics, enhancing AI-driven insights and predictive optimizations.

Aether SD-RAN’s modular architecture ensures that these interfaces are scalable and adaptable, allowing for future enhancements and seamless integration within multi-vendor O-RAN environments.

Figure 1: O-RAN Architecture (source)

E2 Service Model (E2SM) Compliance

O-RAN compliance requires adherence to E2 Service Models (E2SMs), which define the interactions between Near-RT RIC and E2 nodes. Aether SD-RAN implements a flexible and scalable approach to E2SM integration, ensuring:

  • Support for Key Performance Measurement (KPM) E2SM, enabling real-time monitoring of RAN performance.
  • Implementation of RAN Control (RC) E2SM, allowing dynamic adjustments to network parameters.
  • Efficient handling of E2 Subscription and Indication messages, ensuring real-time control and analytics data collection.

Aether SD-RAN’s architecture ensures that E2SM support evolves alongside O-RAN specifications, making it a future-proof solution for RAN intelligence.

Security and Compliance

Security is a fundamental component of O-RAN compliance, ensuring that networks remain protected from unauthorized access and cyber threats. Aether SD-RAN implements:

  • TLS-based encryption for secure communication over E2 and A1 interfaces.
  • Role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce strict authorization policies for xApps and RIC components.
  • Secure xApp sandboxing, preventing unauthorized applications from accessing sensitive network data.

These features ensure that Aether SD-RAN aligns with O-RAN’s best practices for security and access management, providing a reliable and compliant framework for Near-RT RIC deployments.

Interoperability with O-RAN Components

One of the key goals of O-RAN is to enable multi-vendor interoperability, allowing different network elements to function together seamlessly. Aether SD-RAN is designed for high interoperability, ensuring compatibility with:

  • O-RAN-compliant CUs and DUs, allowing smooth E2 interface integration.
  • xApps from third-party developers, supporting a dynamic and extensible ecosystem.
  • Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) platforms, facilitating centralized network management.

By focusing on cloud-native, vendor-agnostic design, Aether SD-RAN ensures that operators can deploy and integrate it flexibly across different network environments.

OnRamp: Simplifying Aether SD-RAN Deployment

Deploying Aether SD-RAN can be streamlined using OnRamp, a tool designed to help users set up and customize Aether’s 5G platform efficiently. OnRamp provides a structured approach for learning, experimenting, and deploying Aether SD-RAN in different environments. Users can start with a Quick Start deployment on a single virtual machine and gradually progress toward more complex configurations, including emulated and physical Radio Access Networks (RANs). By leveraging OnRamp, organizations can accelerate the adoption of Aether SD-RAN, ensuring a smooth integration of Near-RT RIC functionalities into their O-RAN deployments.

Conclusion: Aether SD-RAN is a Compliant and Future-Ready Near-RT RIC

Aether SD-RAN is a mature, scalable, and compliant Near-RT RIC implementation that aligns closely with O-RAN’s open and intelligent RAN vision. With strong adherence to standardized interfaces, security best practices, and interoperability requirements, it provides a robust foundation for operators, researchers, and enterprises deploying O-RAN networks.

As O-RAN adoption accelerates, compliance with evolving standards will remain a priority. Aether SD-RAN’s modular, cloud-native approach ensures that it can continuously adapt to new specifications, making it a reliable and future-ready choice for intelligent RAN deployments.

For More Information

  • For a comparative analysis of open-source Near-RT RIC implementations, Section 5.5.6 of the ‘Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0’ report by Rimedo Labs provides insights into multiple frameworks. “Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0” by Rimedo Labs.
  • Register to join us for a webinar on May 27th where we will be discussing the benefits of Open RAN and results of third party testing of Aether’s O-RAN compliant Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller by Rimedo Labs. 
  • Sign-up for the Aether Newsletter to stay up-to-date about news and events across the Aether community.

Mar 19

Aether SD-RAN: Advancing Near-RT RIC in the O-RAN Ecosystem

By Blog

This is the first blog in a series of weekly posts that focuses on highlights from the “Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0” report by Rimedo Labs.

Introduction

The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture is transforming the way mobile networks are built and operated by introducing open interfaces, modular components, and intelligent real-time optimizations. A key element of O-RAN is the Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC), which is responsible for making network adjustments within a latency range of 10 milliseconds to one second. The Near-RT RIC enables advanced control over the Radio Access Network (RAN) through specialized applications known as xApps, which leverage AI/ML models, policies, and real-time data analytics to optimize network performance.

Aether SD-RAN brings a modular, cloud-native approach to network control, integrating software-defined networking (SDN) principles with O-RAN specifications. This post explores how Aether SD-RAN aligns with the O-RAN architecture and additional enhancements it offers specifically for Near-RT RIC functionality.

Key Features of Aether SD-RAN

Aether SD-RAN is built to support critical Near-RT RIC capabilities, ensuring efficient and scalable RAN control. The following sections highlight its core functionalities and how they contribute to O-RAN’s vision.

E2 Interface: Enabling Real-Time RAN Control

The E2 interface serves as the communication channel between the Near-RT RIC and E2 nodes (O-RAN-compliant base station elements such as CUs and DUs). Aether SD-RAN provides:

  • Support for Key Performance Measurement (KPM) E2SM, allowing continuous monitoring of RAN performance.
  • RAN Control (RC) E2SM, enabling real-time network optimization and policy enforcement.
  • E2 Subscription and Indication Handling, ensuring that xApps receive real-time network data efficiently.
  • Dynamic E2 Setup and Configuration Updates, allowing seamless network adjustments.

These capabilities ensure that Aether SD-RAN can efficiently monitor and optimize network behavior while maintaining flexibility for multi-vendor interoperability.

A1 Interface: Policy-Based Network Control

The A1 interface enables coordination between the Non-Real-Time RIC (Non-RT RIC) and Near-RT RIC, ensuring that policy-driven decisions are enforced in real time. Aether SD-RAN features:

  • A1 policy management, supporting policy-based optimizations from the Non-RT RIC.
  • Efficient routing of A1 messages to xApps, ensuring seamless integration between policy control and near-real-time decision-making.
  • Support for policy updates and enrichment data exchange, enhancing AI-driven network automation.

By integrating A1 policies, Aether SD-RAN enables adaptive, AI-powered optimizations that dynamically adjust to changing network conditions.

O1 Interface: Orchestration and Fault Management

The O1 interface facilitates Operations, Administration, and Management (OAM), allowing integration with the Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) system. Aether SD-RAN enhances network management by providing:

  • NETCONF/YANG-based configuration, ensuring structured and automated network management.
  • Fault and performance monitoring with Prometheus integration, allowing real-time observability.
  • Scalability through cloud-native orchestration, supporting dynamic deployment and lifecycle management of RIC components.

With these capabilities, Aether SD-RAN enables simplified and automated network operations, reducing the operational burden on network administrators.

Y1 Interface: Leveraging RAN Analytics

The Y1 interface facilitates the exchange of RAN analytics with external consumers, improving data-driven network decision-making. Aether SD-RAN includes:

  • Integrated observability with Prometheus exporters, providing real-time network insights.
  • Support for AI/ML-driven network analytics, allowing predictive performance optimizations.
  • Efficient data collection mechanisms for enhanced decision-making.

While Y1 functionality continues to evolve within O-RAN implementations, Aether SD-RAN is actively advancing network intelligence and analytics-driven automation.

Security and Fault Tolerance

Security and reliability are essential for any Near-RT RIC deployment. Aether SD-RAN ensures a secure and resilient architecture with:

  • Secure gRPC-based communication, ensuring encrypted interactions between network components.
  • Role-based access control (RBAC) and TLS encryption, preventing unauthorized access.
  • Automated fault recovery using Kubernetes, ensuring high availability and self-healing capabilities.

These security enhancements make Aether SD-RAN a robust solution for enterprise and telecom-grade O-RAN deployments.

Cloud-Native Orchestration and Scalability

Aether SD-RAN is designed with scalability and flexibility in mind, integrating with modern cloud environments. Key capabilities include:

  • Kubernetes-native orchestration, ensuring automated scaling and resource management.
  • Helm charts for simplified deployment, making it easy to install and configure RIC components.
  • onos-operator for dynamic resource allocation, optimizing network control functions.

These features make Aether SD-RAN highly adaptable for real-world deployments, from research environments to commercial networks.

Aether SD-RAN’s Role in the O-RAN Ecosystem

Aether SD-RAN provides a mature and feature-rich open source Near-RT RIC implementation that aligns closely with O-RAN’s vision. By integrating E2 and A1 policy control, advanced orchestration, and AI-powered analytics, it serves as a strong foundation for building intelligent, vendor-neutral RAN solutions.

As 5G and future networks continue to evolve, Aether SD-RAN plays a critical role in enabling open, software-defined, and AI-driven RAN control. With its cloud-native approach and modular architecture, it provides a scalable and interoperable solution for operators, developers, researchers, and enterprises exploring the potential of O-RAN.

For More Information

Feb 18

Aether Releases SD-RAN v1.5 Adding Major Enhancements to the RIC and 5G RAN

By Blog

The Aether SD-RAN v1.5 release is the sixth release of the Aether SD-RAN project and adds three major enhancements to the RIC and 5G RAN:

  • xApps updates enabling O-RAN E2SM-RC 
  • Updates to SD-RAN OAI 5G RAN stack to work with SD-RAN RIC
  • Integration of Aether-OnRamp, a blueprint that simplifies SD-RAN deployment

Join us for a techinar March 5th at 8:00 am Pacific to learn about the latest SD-RAN v1.5 release –  Register here.

This release integrates the official O-RAN E2SM RC service model (v1.02.03). The legacy underlying service models PCI, MLB, and MHO xApps from the ONF community E2SMs (including E2SM RC-Pre and MHO) were replaced with the official O-RAN E2SM RC service model. This expands SD-RAN coverage enabling RAN vendors or users/developers to use/test more official O-RAN SM features. With SD-RAN v1.5 release, there are now four use-cases leveraging the official O-RAN SM – KPIMON (with KPM), PCI, MHO, and MLB (with RC). 

The SD-RAN v1.5 release adds support for 5G ONF/OAI 5G RAN stack. Note the previous SD-RAN releases supported the OAI RAN stack option for 4G RAN with the official O-RAN E2SM KPM and the Aether community E2SM RSM service models. The RAN stack now supports the official O-RAN E2SM KPM service model and plans are to support the RSM service model in the future.

The addition of support for the Aether OnRamp blueprint for SD-RAN blueprint provides deployment automation of this SD-RAN release. This more closely aligns SD-RAN with the overall Aether Project which includes other Aether services such as SD-Core, ROC, etc. over the same cluster. We continue to support the sdRan-in-a-Box (RiaB) deployment automation tool, which enables creation of a local Kubernetes cluster and deployment of SD-RAN components on top. However, RiaB is specifically only supported for SD-RAN project deployments only. 

For all the details about this release, please refer to the Aether SD-RAN v1.5 release notes on the wiki.

The Aether community welcomes new members – to learn and join the community.  Check out the various ways to connect with us and sign-up for the periodic Aether newsletter.

Register for SD-RAN v1.5 Techinar

Jan 07

2025 Aether TST Election Results

By Blog

We are pleased to announce the results of the recent 2025 Aether Technical Steering Team (TST) elections. Each of these individuals has been elected by the community to a 2-year term on the Aether TST: Gabriel Arrobo (Intel), Ghislain Bourgeois (Canonical), Bilal Saleem (Purdue University) and Tianyi Zhang (Iowa State University).

We also would like to extend a warm thank you to the outgoing TST members: Scott Baker (Intel), Andy Bavier (Intel) and Muhammad Shahbaz (Purdue University). Your past and ongoing dedication and contributions are greatly appreciated! 

Aether Project enhancements through community contributions are continuing to accelerate, along with ecosystem support and commercial adoption. We look forward to an exciting year in 2025 and invite current members to continue their support and new members to join us. 

About Our New Aether TST Members

Gabriel Arrobo

Gabriel was reelected to the Aether TST for an additional 2-year term. He has over two decades of experience in telecommunication systems, has published more than 20+ papers, and filed 80+ patent applications related to wireless network communications. 

As a contributor on the Aether Project since 2022, Gabriel has collaborated with other working group members on a number of efforts. His Aether contributions include: implemented GTPu Path monitoring in the UPF; enabled TLS by default for the service-based interface (SBI); implemented ZUC algorithm at the NAS; replaced logger in all source code to use ZAP; refactored configuration options in all network functions; drove enablement the of CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions; managed SD-Core components: GitHub repositories, DockerHub and Aether registries; updated SD-Core codebase to use the latest major GO version (1.23); continued reviewing, testing and merging pull requests to maintain the codebase up-to-date; created a (5G) RAN Slicing Management xApp that uses the Cell Configuration and Control (CCC) service model.

Gabriel is a Cloud Software Architect at Intel Labs and is currently working on upgrading the 3GPP release for Aether and is hoping to help drive more community contributions in his role as a member of the TST.

Gabirel holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida, in addition to an Engineering Degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Escuela Politecnica Nacional in Quito, Ecuador. 

Ghislain Bourgeois

Ghislain is an experienced senior technical architect with a history of success implementing and maintaining telecommunications systems. His background spans from networking protocols, automation, CI/CD, Linux and many other programming languages and debugging tools. He began participating and contributing to the Aether Project in 2023. His initial contribution was improving the API of the SD-Core web console to allow reading device groups and network slices. Since that time, most of his contributions have been related to general maintenance of the SD-Core project such as improving the CI, updating dependencies and fixing bugs.

As a Senior Software Engineer at Canonical, Ghislain works on the Charmed Aether SD-Core product development which aims to provide users a way to easily deploy and operate a private 5G core network. This work requires a stable Aether SD-Core base that is secure and can be maintained well in the future and therefore the work Ghislain and his team are contributing to the Aether Project is focused around testing, bug fixes and improving the maintainability of the code. They also contribute new features periodically.

The main enhancements Ghislain would like to bring to the Aether community are improvements in the maintenance of the project, including the release process and automation of maintenance tasks. Another goal is making it easier for people to join the community and contribute to the project which can be accelerated by improving the code quality, adding tests and improving the tooling that developers can use to successfully contribute to the project.

Ghislain holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from École de Technologie Supérieure located in Montréal, Québec.

Bilal Saleem

Bilal is an experienced research assistant based upon his work in academia at Purdue University. He has published 5 technical research papers, 3 of which were presented at A-star conferences. Bilal also has industry experience in software development, computer networks, and cloud computing with skills in languages such as C++, Python, Go, and Java, and frameworks like Django. He has been contributing to the Aether Project since 2023 and contributed to the design and development of Aether OnRamp, a toolkit for customization of Aether configurations on local hardware. In addition, he added support for OAI RAN, and resolved multiple bugs in the Aether code base.

Bilal is currently focused on making Aether scalable and high-performing, enhancing OnRamp, and adding support for additional RAN simulators. Going forward, he looks forward to collaborating with the Aether community to identify opportunities for enhancing its functionality as well as learning from peers.

Bilal holds a degree in Computer Science from Purdue University and a Bachelor degree from Computer Science and Emerging Sciences in Pakistan. 

Tianyi Zhang

Tianyi has extensive experience in wireless networking from his research work in academia and contributions to open source projects (including Aether, OAI, srsRAN, Open5GS, and O-RAN Alliance), and has authored numerous publications and received awards related to wireless network communications. His background includes 5G hardware platforms (NI USRP SDR, Ericsson, Skylark, Keysight, Viavi), robotics (ROS, CAD and CAE software), AI/ML software, data analytics (MATLAB, Mathematica, Minitab, OriginLab), and programming languages (Python, C, C++, MATLAB, Qt, CUDA). 

Tianyi has participated in the Aether community since 2024 and is the lead representative for the ARA Wireless Living Lab (ARA) to the Aether Project. ARA is a large-scale, real-world experimental infrastructure designed for rural wireless technologies and applications. It is being deployed across the Iowa State University campus, the City of Ames (home to ISU), surrounding research and producer farms, and rural communities in central Iowa, spanning a diameter of over 60 km. ARA serves as a living testbed for smart and connected rural communities, enabling the research and development of rural-focused wireless technologies that deliver affordable, high-capacity connectivity to rural areas and industries such as agriculture.

Together with other members of the ARA, Tianyi has integrated ARA’s field-deployed open source RAN and an Ericsson gNB with Aether SD-Core. They also deployed Aether’s SD-RAN micro-ONOS-based near real-time RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) on the ARA platform to connect to the open source RAN. In addition, Tianyi is collaborating with his advisor, Professor Hongwei Zhang, and other ARA research group members to integrate SD-Core and SD-RAN into the ARA platform. This work supports not only their own research but also the broader ARA user community and the advancement of rural wireless technologies and applications.

Tianyi is currently a PhD candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State University and holds an MMS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Boston University and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Dec 04

Impact of Open Source 5G Projects

By Blog

Check out this article by Ajay Lotan Thakur, Aether TST Member and Software Director, Intel published in the Canadian IEEE Toronto Section. He discusses the benefits and community value of collaborative open source 5G projects including Aether, OpenAirInterface, Open5gs, Free5gc, Open5gCore, and Magma.

Nov 12

Bringing Automation to Open Source 5G Software at Ubuntu Summit 2024

By Blog

Excerpts from Blog by Canonical

End-to-end Private 5G demo at the Ubuntu Summit

“At this year’s Ubuntu Summit at The Hague, Netherlands, Canonical gave a live demonstration of how open source with automation can help enterprises in their private mobile network deployments. The demo showcased successful integration of Charmed Aether SD-Core and Charmed OAI RAN, where a 5G PMN was set up with commercial 5G phones connected via a software-defined radio (SDR) as the radio front-end. The demo attracted considerable attention from the Summit attendees, who were particularly drawn by the potential impact of these two products on the private mobile networking market.”

“The demo setup with desktop PCs running a disaggregated 5G private mobile network. Our live installation also showcased the ability to deploy the 5G PMN as disaggregated components. This included the control and user plane separation (CUPS) capability of Charmed Aether SD-Core.”

Read complete blog

Nov 06

Initial observations on SMaRT-5G project energy efficiency measurements

By Blog

In this article featured in RCR Wireless News by Sarat Puthenpura, Chief Architect, Aether SMaRT-5G, he shares some of the exciting research findings to date from the Aether SMaRT-5G project. SMaRT-5G is focused on exploring, demonstrating and validating innovative energy measurements and modeling for 5G mobile networks. As part of this effort, a platform, POET: Platform for O-RAN Energy Efficiency Testing has been created. 

The project is funded by a $2M grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and activity is taking place  in collaboration with Rutgers University’s WINLAB and Cognizant. 

Read the article

Sarat will also be speaking on a panel at the upcoming virtual Telco Sustainability Forum on December 10th – learn more and register to attend.

 

 

Oct 23

Aether Nets Canonical Endorsement, Post ONF ‘graduation’

By Blog

Excerpt Published Courtesy of ReTHINK Wireless Watch

“Back in June, Canonical (the firm behind the Ubuntu Linux distribution), released Charmed Aether SD-Core, its implementation of Aether’s SD-Core as a beta release. At this launch, Canonical billed the offering as a way for companies that lack the deep technical expertise of an MNO to deploy a 5G-native network core. — to orchestrate the various microservices needed to keep the network online and in harmony, running on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, deployed via K8s.”

“Canonical provided an October update on its Aether-based progress. Next week, at the Ubuntu Summit, a live demonstration of Charmed Aether SD-Core will be running and available for perusal.”

“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, a member of the Aether board and the chair of the Technical Steering Team. “Charmed Aether SD-Core simplifies the operation of a Private 5G, enabling enterprises to efficiently host their own edge applications.”

Read Article (requires subscription to ReTHINK Wireless Watch)

Oct 08

Build your private 5G network with Charmed Aether SD-Core

By Blog

– 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 3rd 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.

 

Sep 19

Rimedo Labs working with the Linux Foundation to help harmonize open source for Open RAN

By Blog

– 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!

Aug 28

5G Energy Efficiency Metrics, Models and System Tests

By Blog

Check out this article published in RCR Wireless News to for an overview about the Aether SMaRT-5G initiative. This project has been building a series of PoCs that demonstrate progressively advanced energy savings techniques on both Open-RAN and traditional RAN architectures. The phased series of PoCs is to progressively deliver power usage models, APIs and open-source software, with the goal of accelerating MNO adoption and industry impact. The team has demonstrated two SMaRT-5G PoCs in the recent past. The first was at Fyuz in October 2023 and the second took place at the NTIA-hosted RIC forum in March 2024. The key collaborators of these PoCs were Rimedo Labs, Tietoevry, Intel Labs, Viavi Solutions and i14y Labs. More PoCs are on the way.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)is supporting the SMaRT-5G initiative with a research grant through their Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF).

Read article

May 14

Aether v2.2.0 Released

By Blog

Aether, which includes the latest version of SD-Core (v1.4), is now tested and deployed using OnRamp. Blueprints include support for multiple RAN options: emulated gNBs, physical eNB/gNB, SD-RAN.

Aether OnRamp is now the recommended way to get started with Aether. It defines a step-by-step procedure for deploying and operating Aether on your own hardware, including support for 5G small cell radios.

Read More
May 01

Aether Presented at 2024 LF ONE Summit

By Blog

Aether Governing Board member and Technical Steering Team (TST) Chair Larry Peterson recently spoke at the Linux Foundation’s 2024 ONE Summit. Larry presented on Aether: Private 5G for Industry 4.0, which included an overview of the Aether architecture, key innovations of Aether (SD-Core and SD-RAN) and Aether’s deployment machinery (OnRamp).

Apr 02

SD-Core v1.4.0 Released Adding Integration Testing Using OnRamp

By Blog

SD-Core supports 4G & 5G network functions and includes APIs for configuration, telemetry, policy management. Access networks can connect to Access & Mobility Management Function (AMF) or Mobility Management Entity (MME) depending on the type of access used.

The SD-Core v1.4.0 release includes bug fixes to improve stability, CI pipeline migrated to GitHub Actions, performance improvements to the UPF, and integration testing using OnRamp. 

Read More
Close Menu