LGU+ Implements 5G Service with Open RAN-Based Small Cells at Magok Office

Implementation of Indoor Base Station 'Small Cell' at Magok Office Using Siena-Airspan-Druid Open RAN Equipment

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] LG Uplus announced on the 27th that it has successfully implemented indoor 5G service at its Magok office building in Seoul using a small cell in-building solution based on the Open RAN (O-RAN) open radio access network standard, in collaboration with global telecommunications equipment manufacturer Siena.

Open RAN refers to a standard technology that separates the hardware and software of wireless communication equipment, including base stations, and enables interoperability between equipment made by different manufacturers. Using Open RAN is expected to significantly reduce deployment and operational costs for telecom operators.

LG Uplus built an end-to-end (E2E) in-building solution at the Magok office, which includes Open RAN small cell antennas and base station software from the U.S. telecom equipment company Airspan, as well as 5G core network software from the Irish telecom software company Druide. Small cell base stations have a smaller coverage area than large base stations (macrocells) but are smaller in size, making installation easier and effective for improving indoor quality.

LG Uplus implemented basic mobile communication functions such as connecting multiple smartphones simultaneously to the Open RAN small cell base stations and providing seamless service handover while moving. They also monitored CPU load changes in the Open RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) under various connection environments and confirmed there were no issues with call processing.

Siena was responsible for overall system integration of Open RAN and supplied an edge server in a ‘one-box’ form factor capable of simultaneously hosting the Open RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU), Central Unit (O-CU), and core network software that make up the base station.

Last year, LG Uplus built an Open RAN laboratory using multi-vendor O-RAN equipment that meets the standards set by the O-RAN Alliance. They verified the performance of a virtualized base station by interworking heterogeneous vendor virtualized O-DU and antenna (O-RU) equipment based on the open fronthaul standard, and by installing O-DU/O-CU software on a general-purpose server.

LG Uplus is also discussing Open RAN-related technology cooperation with Mavenir, a U.S.-based cloud network company. To build a domestic Open RAN ecosystem, they plan to expand O-DU/O-RU vendors and conduct stability verification work. Furthermore, they aim to confirm commercialization feasibility by interworking O-RAN equipment with commercial equipment.

Lee Sangheon, Head of Network Advanced Development at LG Uplus, said, “This Open RAN small cell field trial verified basic mobile communication functions in the field, allowing us to confirm the equipment completeness necessary for Open RAN commercialization. LG Uplus will lead research and development in preparation for the upcoming Open RAN era and strive to build a global Open RAN ecosystem.”

Kim Inseong, Head of Siena Korea, said, “The Open RAN small cell trial confirmed the application of system integration in the 5G radio domain and fronthaul solutions based on a universal gateway. We will work to establish a foothold in the 5G Open RAN market going forward.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.