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AI-RAN

RAN and inference on the same accelerators.

AI-RAN, inside Connectivity: AI-for-RAN, AI-and-RAN (shared GPU for RAN and AI), AI-on-RAN (edge AI services on RAN sites), software-defined L1 on GPUs and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from AI-RAN Alliance AI-for-RAN working group to 3GPP TR 38.843, and runs on the open Observatory Protocol.

Plan with usArchitectureThe protocol
Technologies
9
At the frontier
5
Protocol functions
3 of 8
Industries served
21

Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part

01What it is

AI-RAN: shared accelerated infrastructure.

Disaggregated, software-defined and AI-assisted radio access: the O-RAN architecture and its open interfaces, 7.2x fronthaul, RAN intelligent controllers with xApps and rApps, SMO and O-Cloud, accelerated L1, shared GPU infrastructure for RAN and AI, AI/ML in the 3GPP air interface, energy saving, and the test and integration work that makes multi-supplier RAN deployable. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against.

AI-RAN and Open RAN

AI-for-RAN

Using AI models to improve radio performance, spectral efficiency and operations.

We design and integrate.

AI-RAN Alliance AI-for-RAN working group · 3GPP TR 38.843

Frontier · AI-RAN and Open RAN

AI-and-RAN (shared GPU for RAN and AI)

Running the RAN and AI inference on the same accelerated servers, with RAN given priority when traffic needs it.

We design, integrate, deploy and operate.

AI-RAN Alliance AI-and-RAN working group · O-RAN WG6 AAL

Frontier · AI-RAN and Open RAN

AI-on-RAN (edge AI services on RAN sites)

Hosting third-party and site AI applications on RAN compute close to users and sensors.

We design, integrate, deploy and operate.

AI-RAN Alliance AI-on-RAN working group · ETSI GS MEC 003

Frontier · AI-RAN and Open RAN

Software-defined L1 on GPUs

Running the full physical layer in software on GPUs instead of fixed-function hardware.

We design and integrate.

O-RAN WG6 AAL General Aspects and Principles

Frontier · AI-RAN and Open RAN

RAN-first workload scheduling

Schedulers that protect RAN deadlines and lend idle accelerator time to AI jobs.

We design, integrate and operate.

O-RAN WG6 O2dms Interface Specification

Frontier · AI-RAN and Open RAN

Isolation between RAN and AI tenants

Hardware and software isolation so AI tenants cannot affect RAN timing or reach RAN data.

We design, integrate and operate.

O-RAN WG11 security specifications · IETF RFC 9334 (remote attestation architecture)

AI-RAN and Open RAN

AI-RAN site power and cooling

Power and thermal design for accelerated cell sites and hubs, measured against energy efficiency metrics.

We design, deploy and maintain.

ETSI ES 202 706-1 (BS energy efficiency) · ASHRAE TC 9.9 thermal guidelines

AI-RAN and Open RAN

O-RAN reference architecture

The split of the RAN into O-RU, O-DU, O-CU, RICs, SMO and O-Cloud with defined open interfaces between them.

We design and integrate.

O-RAN WG1 Architecture Description

AI-RAN and Open RAN

O-RU (radio unit)

The radio and low-PHY at the antenna, category A or B depending on where precoding runs.

We integrate, deploy and maintain.

O-RAN WG4 Control, User and Synchronization Plane Specification · O-RAN WG7 white-box hardware reference designs

02Architecture

Where it sits, and what it speaks.

AI-RAN draws on 7 domains and 55 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 3 of the protocol’s 8 core functions.

Macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters

9

Massive MIMO and beamforming

7

NR bands, duplexing and synchronisation

9

NR features: RedCap, positioning, sidelink and verticals

9

Private networks and RAN sharing

7

Wi-Fi coexistence and convergence

8

6G and integrated sensing and communication

7

RAN planning, optimisation and assurance

6

O-RAN architecture and open interfaces

7

Fronthaul (7.2x split) and transport

8

RAN intelligent controllers, xApps and rApps

8

SMO, O-Cloud and accelerated L1

8

AI-RAN: shared accelerated infrastructure

7

AI/ML in the air interface and network management

8

Energy saving and efficiency

6

Testing, integration and security

8

01JoinIdentity, attestation quote, signed policy.

02AdmitAdmitted for a stated scope, nothing wider.

03DescribeWhat, where, how and by whom, with calibration.

04TimeOne clock across the grid, with its error bound.

05ObserveEvery value with quality and provenance.

06QualifyTested against the specification, state on record.

07FederateSigned exchange across grids and trust domains.

08OrchestrateSoftware and configuration by signed plan.

03On the grid

Every site joins one observing grid.

The open networks on the grid today, over real relief and the geodesic cells we count them into. A site built here enrols into the same grid.

04In the field

Where this runs, sector by sector.

6 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on AI-RAN.

Government and public safety

Alerting integration with the Common Alerting Protocol and cell broadcast

Software-heavy: sensor triggers feed an alert origination tool; the alert authority keeps every decision.Government and public safety

Deployable communications and sensing for incident command

A cell on wheels with satellite backhaul, mesh telemetry and environment nodes at the incident base.Cities

Municipal low-power radio or private 5G layer

A city-wide connectivity layer as digital public infrastructure.Communities and rural

Indigenous-owned community cellular

Unused 800 MHz and 1900 MHz spectrum through an access-licensing framework with a priority window for Indigenous applicants.Communities and rural

Last-mile fixed wireless with community anchor sensing

Sub-grantee partnerships where observatory nodes co-host at schools, clinics and fire halls.Communities and rural

Rural and cross-border 5G corridors and smart communities

Co-funded cross-border sections under European digital infrastructure calls.

05Open and enterprise

Open by default. Enterprise by contract.

The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract.

Open, on the main site

  • Band tables and sources
  • Country guides
  • Coverage methods

Enterprise, on this site

  • Private Wireless as a Service
  • AI-RAN deployment
  • Spectrum route support

06The rest of the line

Connectivity, area by area.

Connectivity

Private 5G

Standalone NPN: your core, your SIMs, your site.Connectivity

O-RAN

Open fronthaul and RIC, many suppliers.Connectivity

Satellite and NTN

LEO, GEO and 3GPP direct-to-device.Connectivity

LPWAN and mesh

Battery sensors over kilometres.Connectivity

Timing

PTP to G.8275.1, GNSS with holdover.Connectivity

Spectrum

Bands, licences and routes, by country.

Bring us the site.

Survey, design, deployment and operation for AI-RAN. The form names who receives your details.

Talk to uscontact@observatory.global

RAN and inference on the same accelerators.

AI-RAN, inside Connectivity: AI-for-RAN, AI-and-RAN (shared GPU for RAN and AI), AI-on-RAN (edge AI services on RAN sites), software-defined L1 on GPUs and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from AI-RAN Alliance AI-for-RAN working group to 3GPP TR 38.843, and runs on the open Observatory Protocol.

01What it is

02Architecture

Where it sits, and what it speaks.

03On the grid

04In the field

Where this runs, sector by sector.

05Open and enterprise

Open by default. Enterprise by contract.

The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract.

Open, on the main site
    Enterprise, on this site
      06The rest of the line

      Bring us the site.

      Talk to us