6G • RAN
O-RAN 2.0 Near-RT RIC
Open RAN Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller for 6G
AI-driven controller hosting microsecond-level xApps to optimize beamforming, spectrum sharing, and energy saving autonomously.
Technical Explanation
Open RAN 2.0 in 6G matures the decoupled RAN architecture into a fully autonomous, AI-governed fabric. The Near-Real-Time RIC (operating on control loops between 10 ms and 1 second) hosts third-party AI microservices called xApps. In 6G, the Near-RT RIC dynamically orchestrates ISAC radar sensing beams, calculates phase matrices for distributed RIS metasurfaces, and predicts Sub-THz beam blockages to trigger proactive handovers before user data sessions drop.
Key Functions
- Hosting specialized machine learning xApps for near-instantaneous radio control
- 10 ms - 1000 ms control loops optimizing beamforming, interference, and dynamic slicing
- Real-time coordination of external Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS)
- Cross-vendor interoperability via open standardized E2 and A1 interfaces
- Dynamic spectrum sharing and radio resource allocation across heterogeneous cells
Specifications
O-RAN Alliance Working Group 3, 3GPP Rel-19/20 Alignment
Interfaces
E2-6GA1-6GY1 (Sensing-O-RAN)
Related 6G Concepts
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