Open-RAN for Intelligent B5G and 6G Wireless Networks: Emerging Trends and Recent Developments

Scope of the papers

The Open Radio Access Network (Open-RAN) is an emerging paradigm for B5G and 6G wireless networks that envisages offering a vendor-agnostic RAN that integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI), virtualization, and softwarization in all facets of the network. This increases the flexibility and interoperability of the network and facilitates the deployment of components that autonomously orchestrate, manage, and optimize the network resources through intelligent data-driven mechanisms. Furthermore, the vendor-agnostic aspect of Open-RAN leads to cost-efficient deployments and reduces R&D time and costs. This special session aims to disseminate emerging trends and recent developments in the Open-RAN domain, focusing on architectures, security and trust, Blockchain, AI, and orchestration approaches. The session is strongly supported by the ideas and work of NANCY, which is a Phase 1-Stream A project funded by the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) under the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• B5G architectures based on Open-RAN
• Open-RAN deployments, scenarios, and testbeds
• Open-RAN Service and Management Orchestration (SMO) frameworks
• Resource orchestration in Open-RAN
• Open-RAN security and privacy
• AI/ML-based resource allocation
• Federated learning for the Open-RAN
• Security and privacy using Blockchain
• RAN Intelligent Controllers
• Offloading schemes
• Explainable AI techniques for Open-RAN
• Extension of Open-RAN deployments to non-terrestrial networks