/
Frontier labs/
PilotsPilots, inside Frontier labs: near-real-time RIC and E2, E2 service models, xApps, non-real-time RIC and A1 and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture to O-RAN WG3 E2 Application Protocol (E2AP), and runs on the open Observatory Protocol.
Plan with usArchitectureThe protocolReference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part
01What it is
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. AI from model to accountable operation: edge inference and model optimisation, foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial work, time-series and sensor AI, multimodal fusion and supervised agentic operations, federated and privacy-preserving learning, physical AI and robotics within stated red lines, MLOps, evaluation and model risk, and the governance frameworks that apply to each. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against.
AI-RAN and Open RAN
A platform at 10 ms–1 s timescales that hosts xApps controlling RAN nodes over the E2 interface.
We design, integrate and operate.
O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture · O-RAN WG3 E2 Application Protocol (E2AP)
AI-RAN and Open RAN
Standard data and control models for KPIs, RAN control and cell configuration exposed to xApps.
We design and integrate.
O-RAN WG3 E2SM-KPM · O-RAN WG3 E2SM-RC · O-RAN WG3 E2SM-CCC
AI-RAN and Open RAN
Applications for traffic steering, interference handling, slicing assurance and scheduling at near-real-time scale.
We design, integrate and operate.
O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture · O-RAN WG1 Use Cases Detailed Specification
AI-RAN and Open RAN
Policy and model management above 1 s timescales inside the SMO, sending guidance to the near-RT RIC over A1.
We design, integrate and operate.
O-RAN WG2 Non-RT RIC Architecture · O-RAN WG2 A1 Application Protocol
AI-RAN and Open RAN
Portable non-real-time applications for energy, planning and optimisation using SMO services over R1.
We design, integrate and operate.
O-RAN WG2 R1 interface specifications
AI-RAN and Open RAN
Detecting and resolving cases where two apps try to change the same parameter in opposite directions.
We design and operate.
O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture (conflict mitigation)
AI-RAN and Open RAN
Traffic steering, QoE optimisation, massive MIMO tuning, slice assurance and anomaly detection as defined use cases.
We design, integrate and operate.
O-RAN WG1 Use Cases Detailed Specification
Frontier · AI-RAN and Open RAN
Research into sub-10 ms control loops running next to the DU on live radio data.
We design.
O-RAN next Generation Research Group (nGRG) reports
AI systems
Uncrewed aircraft for tower inspection, terrain survey and placing or retrieving sensors under aviation rules.
We design, integrate and operate.
Canadian Aviation Regulations Part IX (RPAS) · ASTM F3411 (remote ID) · JARUS SORA
02Architecture
Pilots draws on 4 domains and 32 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 3 of the protocol’s 8 core functions.
Edge inference, model serving and optimisation
10
Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial
9
Time-series and sensor AI
8
Multimodal fusion and agentic operations
7
Federated and privacy-preserving learning
7
Physical AI and robotics (within red lines)
7
MLOps
7
Evaluation, model risk and AI governance
10
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
The open networks on the grid today, over real relief and the geodesic cells we count them into, filtered to the space domain this area serves. A site built here enrols into the same grid.
04In the field
3 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on pilots.
Scientific05Open and enterprise
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
Survey, design, deployment and operation for pilots. The form names who receives your details.
Talk to uscontact@observatory.globalPilots, inside Frontier labs: near-real-time RIC and E2, E2 service models, xApps, non-real-time RIC and A1 and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture to O-RAN WG3 E2 Application Protocol (E2AP), and runs on the open Observatory Protocol.
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.
Global Privacy Control detected. We have honored it as your request to opt out of the sale and sharing of your personal information and of targeted advertising.Signal Global Privacy Control détecté. Nous l'avons respecté comme une demande d'opposition à la vente et à la communication de vos renseignements personnels ainsi qu'à la publicité ciblée.
Cookie policyPolitique relative aux témoins Privacy policyPolitique de confidentialité Do Not Sell or Share My Personal InformationNe pas vendre ni communiquer mes renseignements personnels
Your browser sent a Global Privacy Control signal. We treat it as a refusal for the purposes marked below, and those switches stay off.Votre navigateur a envoyé un signal Global Privacy Control. Nous le traitons comme un refus pour les finalités indiquées ci-dessous, et ces interrupteurs restent désactivés.
Needed for the site to work, to keep you signed in, to protect it from attacks and to remember your privacy choices and the settings you pick. Always on.Nécessaires au fonctionnement du site, pour vous garder connecté, le protéger contre les attaques et retenir vos choix de confidentialité et les réglages que vous choisissez. Toujours actifs.
Remember optional settings beyond the ones you pick yourself. Off until you allow it.Retenir des réglages facultatifs autres que ceux que vous choisissez vous-même. Désactivés tant que vous ne les autorisez pas.
Count visits and see how pages are used, so we can improve the site. Off until you allow it.Compter les visites et voir comment les pages sont utilisées, afin d'améliorer le site. Désactivés tant que vous ne les autorisez pas.
Show videos, maps and live data layers from other providers. They receive your IP address and may set their own cookies. Off until you allow it, or load a single item once.Afficher des vidéos, des cartes et des couches de données en direct d'autres fournisseurs. Ceux-ci reçoivent votre adresse IP et peuvent déposer leurs propres témoins. Désactivés tant que vous ne les autorisez pas, ou chargez un seul élément une fois.
Measure campaigns and personalise advertising. We use none today. Off until you allow it, and refused when your browser sends Global Privacy Control.Mesurer les campagnes et personnaliser la publicité. Nous n'en utilisons aucun actuellement. Désactivés tant que vous ne les autorisez pas, et refusés lorsque votre navigateur transmet le signal Global Privacy Control.
Nexus Observatory Inc. keeps a record of each choice as proof: a random consent ID, the time, your region and the rules applied, the choices, the notice shown, the page, a shortened IP address, a one-way code of your browser type and, if you are signed in, your account. Records are kept while your choice applies and for 3 years after, then deleted.Nexus Observatory Inc. conserve un registre de chaque choix à titre de preuve : un identifiant de consentement aléatoire, l'heure, votre région et les règles appliquées, les choix, l'avis affiché, la page, une adresse IP abrégée, un code à sens unique du type de navigateur et, si vous êtes connecté, votre compte. Les registres sont conservés tant que votre choix s'applique et pendant 3 ans par la suite, puis supprimés.