ATIS today announced an expansion of the first release of the Open RAN Minimum Viable Profile (MVP), which established a minimum set of technical requirements common across all North American operators to foster the development and integration of Open RAN (Radio Access Network) technologies within their networks. The expanded MVP further evolves the initial MVP, published in September, and more fully addresses multi-vendor deployment and interoperability issues. This version now includes requirements for various Open RAN interfaces such as Fronthaul Control, User, Synchronization (CUS)-Plane; Fronthaul Management (M)-Plane; and others specified as part of the Open RAN architecture in the initial release of the MVP. Relevant interoperability test (IOT) profiles are also included.
Mobile network operators (MNOs) are adopting Open RAN with the goal of furthering innovation and deployment flexibility in their networks. Existing standards and specifications provide the technical basis for Open RAN deployment but contain considerable optionality in areas including Open RAN architecture, functional capabilities, and performance. Navigating the range of optionality has been challenging within the trusted equipment supply chain. The MVP will assist in the development, integration, and deployment of Open RAN solutions.
“This expanded MVP will further accelerate the commercial deployment of Open RAN solutions and innovations in North America,” said ATIS President and CEO Susan Miller. “ATIS is where North American MNOs and system vendors come together to reach consensus on critical technical requirements. The MVP, developed through this collaboration, is an essential solution for ensuring interoperability and deployment of multi-vendor Open RAN solutions in North America.”
“Expanding common technical requirements for everyone will be a significant enabler of innovation and operational excellence,” said Rob Soni, Vice President of Radio Access Network Technology at AT&T. “It will allow us to deliver superior network solutions to our customers and stakeholders, fostering a more interconnected and advanced digital ecosystem.”
“EchoStar led the way as the first U.S. company to launch a nationwide cloud-native Open RAN network, and we know the future of Open RAN will benefit from a strong set of common standards to expedite future deployments,” said Jeff Blum, Executive Vice President, External and Government Affairs, EchoStar. “This expanded Minimum Viable Profile promotes competition and will further drive Open RAN adoption across North America and beyond. We look forward to continuing our shared efforts to refine and expand this Minimum Viable Profile even further.”
“Continued collaboration around common requirements across the industry is key to ensuring ensuring North American leadership in Open RAN,” said Karri Kuoppamaki, Senior Vice President of Advanced and Emerging Technologies at T-Mobile. “The continued work by ATIS and its members is a great proof point of that and will further drive adoption of Open RAN solutions in the North American marketplace.”
“Ongoing collaboration at ATIS and across the industry is key to fostering innovation and ensuring North American leadership in Open RAN,” said Narothum Saxena, Vice President of Technology, Strategy and Architecture at UScellular. “This MVP expansion is another step in our journey towards successful Open RAN solutions that will enhance the wireless experience for our customers.”
A webinar on the MVP is scheduled to take place Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET, that delves into the MVP and its pivotal role in in guiding development of Open RAN solutions and innovations and accelerating their deployments across North America. REGISTER.
Access the MVP. Learn more about the MVP at mvp.atis.org.
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