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May 07

Understanding Licensing in Aether SD-RAN

By Blog

This is the eighth 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

Open source licensing is an important factor when selecting a Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) for Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) deployments. Licensing governs how the software can be used, modified, and redistributed, impacting compliance, commercial adoption, and ecosystem collaboration.

This blog post focuses on the licensing policies of Aether SD-RAN, an open-source Near-RT RIC framework governed by a permissive license that enables flexibility and encourages innovation. Insights are drawn from Section 3.3 of the ‘Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0’ report by Rimedo Labs. For a broader comparison across multiple Near-RT RIC implementations, the full report offers additional context.

Why Licensing Matters in Near-RT RIC

A Near-RT RIC’s license affects:

  • Commercial Adoption: Whether the software can be used in proprietary products.
  • Code Modifications: How code contributions and extensions are governed.
  • Compliance with Open Source Policies: Ensuring consistency with enterprise and legal requirements.
  • Collaboration and Ecosystem Growth: The ease with which diverse stakeholders can contribute and integrate the software.

Let’s examine how Aether SD-RAN addresses these aspects through its licensing.

Aether SD-RAN: Apache 2.0 Licensing Benefits

Aether SD-RAN is released under the Apache License 2.0, a permissive open source license that provides wide latitude for use and customization. This licensing model brings several important advantages:

1. Commercial Adoption Flexibility

Organizations can integrate Aether SD-RAN into proprietary or commercial solutions without the obligation to open source derivative works. This encourages:

  • Broader industry participation.
  • Customization  to closely with operator needs.
  • Integration into vendor-specific platforms and offerings.

2. Freedom to Modify and Extend

Under the Apache 2.0 license, developers are free to:

  • Modify the codebase for their own use cases.
  • Build new functionality without needing to contribute changes back (though contributions are welcomed).
  • Choose their own licensing model for derivative works.

This freedom promotes innovation while respecting organizational IP strategies.

3. Open Collaboration Without Barriers

The license allows for low-friction collaboration among stakeholders, including:

  • Network operators
  • Cloud service providers
  • Academic institutions
  • Research labs and system integrators

With no copyright restrictions, contributions can be made openly or privately, enabling a balance between community and commercial interests.

4. Compatibility with Cloud-Native and Enterprise Policies

Apache 2.0 is widely accepted by legal and compliance teams across industries, which:

  • Reduces adoption barriers in regulated sectors.
  • Simplifies integration into CI/CD pipelines and enterprise DevOps environments.
  • Aligns with modern cloud-native and software-defined infrastructure philosophies.

Conclusion

Aether SD-RAN’s use of the Apache 2.0 license provides a foundation for flexible deployment, commercial readiness, and open collaboration. It enables both innovation and adoption, making it well-suited for a wide range of diverse O-RAN initiatives.

For More Information

May 06

Bridging Performance and Energy Efficiency in Open RAN; A Collaboration Between Two NTIA Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF) NOFO1 Projects: ACCoRD (Testing & Evaluation) and SMaRT-5G (R&D)

By Press Release

As Open RAN gains momentum, so does the need to understand how vendor diversity and network disaggregation impact both performance and energy efficiency. Two NTIA PWSCIF NOFO1 projects, ACCoRD and SMaRT-5G, are tackling these challenges from different but complementary angles. This emerging collaboration could help push the industry forward with better tools, methods, and insights.

Where do these two NTIA PWSCIF NOFO1 projects intersect?

  • Infrastructure Compatibility
  • Methodology Feeding Into Test Cases
  • Shared Testbeds and Network Functions
  • Tooling Reuse Potential

Read Full Announcement

Apr 30

Project Activity in Aether SD-RAN: Momentum and Innovation

By Blog

This is the seventh 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 success of an open-source project often depends on its community participation and support, development momentum, and industry adoption. In the context of Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controllers (Near-RT RICs), an active project means regular updates, contributions from multiple diverse stakeholders, and continuous alignment with evolving O-RAN standards.

This blog post highlights the project activity and engagement around Aether SD-RAN, a cloud-native Near-RT RIC implementation aligned with open networking innovations. Insights are drawn from Section 3.2 of the ‘Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0’ report by Rimedo Labs. For those interested in comparisons across multiple frameworks, the full report provides additional context.

Key Factors Defining Project Activity

A thriving open-source project is characterized by:

  • Code Contributions: Regular updates, a roadmap for feature enhancements, and bug fixes.
  • Community Engagement: Active discussions, issue resolution, and stakeholder contributions and participation.
  • Industry Adoption and Partnerships: Usage by end users, vendors, pilot testbeds, researchers and standardization efforts.
  • Governance and Roadmap: Clear project direction and commitment to long-term development.

Let’s explore how Aether SD-RAN demonstrates strength in each of these key areas.

Code Contributions and Release Frequency

Aether SD-RAN features steady development activity, with ongoing enhancements aimed at improving cloud-native capabilities, including modularity, and interoperability or security. Regular updates ensure alignment with evolving O-RAN standards while also supporting modern deployment models like multi-cloud and edge-native architectures.

Planned code commits and iterative improvements reflect the commitment of the development team to advancing the platform.

Community Engagement and Contributor Base

Aether SD-RAN benefits from a community that spans both telecom and cloud-native development ecosystems. This unique blend:

  • Fosters innovation at the intersection of networking and cloud technologies.
  • Encourages collaboration between operators, cloud providers, and technology vendors.
  • Supports a diverse and growing contributor base, ensuring resilience and broader perspectives.

Participation in forums, working groups, and collaborative initiatives helps maintain strong momentum and alignment with industry requirements.

Industry Adoption and Real-World Deployments

Aether SD-RAN is well-integrated into Linux Foundation’s ecosystems, ensuring:

  • Alignment with real-world operator requirements.
  • Deployment in testbeds and proof-of-concept environments.
  • Collaboration with organizations aiming to bring cloud-native principles into telecom infrastructure.

This adoption highlights the platform’s robustness, relevance and readiness for production-oriented scenarios.

Governance and Long-Term Roadmap

Governed under the Linux Foundation umbrella, Aether SD-RAN benefits from:

  • A clear strategic vision centered around open networking advancements.
  • Roadmap aligned with industry trends, including AI-driven RAN control, network slicing, and edge deployments.
  • Long-term commitment to open standards, interoperability, and cloud integration.

The project’s roadmap reflects its goal to stay at the forefront of O-RAN innovation and compatibility while ensuring operational practicality.

Conclusion

Aether SD-RAN showcases a strong level of project activity, combining ongoing development momentum, engaged community participation, and industry-backed governance. These attributes make it a compelling choice for organizations seeking an open, flexible, and future-proof Near-RT RIC platform.

For More Information

Apr 23

Flexibility in Aether SD-RAN: Adapting to Modern O-RAN Deployments

By Blog

This is the sixth 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

In Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) environments, flexibility is a key characteristic that allows Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controllers (Near-RT RICs) to adapt to various network architectures, deployment scenarios, and use cases. A flexible Near-RT RIC should support multiple deployment models, customizable service models, extensible APIs, and multi-vendor interoperability.

This blog post explores the flexibility of Aether SD-RAN, an open-source Near-RT RIC designed with modularity, cloud-native architecture, and extensibility in mind. Insights are drawn from Section 5.5 of the ‘Open Source Near-RT RIC Comparison v1.0’ report by Rimedo Labs. For a broader view of other open-source RIC implementations, readers can consult the full report.

What Defines Flexibility in Aether SD-RAN?

Aether SD-RAN exhibits flexibility in several dimensions that are critical to supporting modern and diverse O-RAN use cases:

  • Support for Diverse Deployment Models
  • Extensible Architecture
  • Multi-Vendor Interoperability
  • Customizable Service Models (E2SMs)
  • API and xApp Extensibility

Let’s explore each area in more detail.

Deployment Model Flexibility

Aether SD-RAN supports multi-cloud and edge-native deployments, making it ideal for dynamic and distributed environments. It can be:

  • Deployed on public or private cloud infrastructure.
  • Installed on Kubernetes clusters across data centers or edge sites.
  • Integrated with automated tools like Aether OnRamp for simplified deployment.

This makes Aether SD-RAN highly suitable for operators looking to deploy in standalone, distributed, complex  and evolving environments.

Extensible Architecture

Built on a microservices-based architecture, Aether SD-RAN allows:

  • Individual components to be developed, deployed, or scaled independently.
  • Flexible integration of new modules, xApps, or interfaces.
  • New features or improvements can be introduced to individual components without requiring changes to the entire system.

This modular design ensures that the platform can evolve with emerging network needs.

Multi-Vendor and E2 Node Support

Aether SD-RAN is designed to integrate with diverse E2 nodes from multiple vendors. Its architecture supports:

  • Seamless onboarding of different RAN equipment.
  • Interoperability across vendor ecosystems by adhering to O-RAN standards.
  • Adaptation for specialized RAN configurations in edge, enterprise, or rural deployments.

This flexibility offers open network architectures, freedom of choice in radio vendors, and ability to mix and match.

Customizable E2 Service Models (E2SMs)

Aether SD-RAN enables developers to implement custom E2SMs based on specific use cases, such as:

  • Traffic steering and load balancing.
  • RAN radio energy efficiency and resource optimization.
  • Network slicing and service assurance.

Support for both standardized and user-defined E2SMs makes Aether SD-RAN adaptable to both traditional and experimental RAN control scenarios.

xApp and API Extensibility

Aether SD-RAN offers gRPC-based APIs for streamlined xApp development and integration. Key capabilities include:

  • Support for various programming languages through protobuf/gRPC interfaces.
  • Modular xApp registration and management.
  • Integration with external systems such as AI/ML pipelines, policy engines, or orchestration platforms.

This API-first design ensures that developers can build and innovate without tight coupling to the core system.

Conclusion

Aether SD-RAN is built for flexibility—supporting multi-cloud and edge deployments, offering a modular and extensible architecture, enabling customizable control models, and facilitating multi-vendor integration. These attributes make it well-suited for modern O-RAN environments where adaptability is essential.

For teams evaluating Near-RT RIC solutions, Aether SD-RAN offers a powerful combination of openness, modularity, and future-readiness.

For More Information

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.

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