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
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Frontier labs/
AI-RAN and 6GSensing and communication on shared compute.
AI-RAN and 6G, inside Frontier labs: 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
- 7
- Protocol functions
- 3 of 8
- Industries served
- 3
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. The radio access network from site to spectrum: macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters, massive MIMO, NR bands and TDD synchronisation, NR features such as RedCap, positioning and sidelink, private and shared networks, Wi-Fi coexistence, 6G and ISAC, and the planning and assurance that keep it working. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against.
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
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks
IMT-2030 framework
The ITU vision for 6G: usage scenarios, capabilities and timelines that shape the next decade of networks.
We design and support.
Rec. ITU-R M.2160
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks
3GPP 6G studies
Release 20 studies defining 6G use cases, requirements and radio and system design.
We design and support.
3GPP TR 22.870 (6G use cases and service requirements)
02Architecture
Where it sits, and what it speaks.
AI-RAN and 6G 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
Every site joins one observing 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
Where this runs, sector by sector.
6 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on AI-RAN and 6G.
Defence-adjacent (civil dual-use)Research and development route through the defence science programme
A science-and-technology programme on all-domain situational awareness.Government and public safetyNational GBON surface and upper-air network
WMO-grade stations reporting through WIS 2.0, funded through the systematic-observations financing pathway.Government and public safetyWildfire camera network and fire-weather stations
Camera towers with edge inference and co-located fire-weather stations, utility- or agency-funded.Government and public safetyUrban street-flood sensor network
Open-hardware depth sensors with open data and alerts to emergency management.Government and public safetyAlerting 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 safetyDeployable communications and sensing for incident command
A cell on wheels with satellite backhaul, mesh telemetry and environment nodes at the incident base.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
- Benchmark methods
- Pilot reports, published either way
Enterprise, on this site
- Research pilots
- Prototype engineering
06The rest of the line
Frontier labs, area by area.
Frontier labsPilots
New technology, a real site, a written plan.Frontier labsBenchmarks
Open data, one method, comparable results.Frontier labsSpace and NTN
Direct-to-device and new payloads, tested.Frontier labsPhysical AI
Drones and robots, inside published red lines.Frontier labsInto the product
From a result to a qualified release.Bring us the site.
Survey, design, deployment and operation for AI-RAN and 6G. The form names who receives your details.
Talk to uscontact@observatory.global