The Ministry of Science and ICT will launch the OpenLAN Industry Alliance and support the early commercialization of OpenLAN by creating a cooperative ecosystem between the public and private sectors and large and small and medium-sized enterprises.

On the 16th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held an inaugural ceremony at the Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley Enterprise Support Hub to announce the government’s open RAN policy implementation direction and present the operating direction of the ‘Open-RAN Industry Alliance (‘ORIA’)’ launched in April. The event was attended by telecommunications companies such as SKT, KT, LGU+, Samsung Electronics, and LG Electronics, manufacturers, SW companies, and experts from industry, academia, and research.
On this day, the chairman of the O-RAN Alliance, an international private organization leading discussions on international open RAN technology and standards, sent a congratulatory message via video from Germany. While congratulating the establishment of ORIA, he proposed active cooperation for the development of open LAN technology and standards.

While the existing RAN environment had high barriers to equipment entry due to the monopoly of specific manufacturers’ protocols and interfaces, Open RAN enables commercialization of networks based on modular design with open fronthaul. With Open RAN already being fully introduced in major countries around the world, the Open RAN market size is expected to grow by more than five times from $1.2 billion in 2021 to $6.4 billion in 2026.

The vision and strategy of ORIA is to support the realization of 'an advanced country in open-LAN technology and products'. SKT was appointed as the first representative chairman of ORIA. ORIA is participated by 30 companies and related organizations, including demanders (telecommunication companies) and suppliers (telecommunication equipment manufacturers, software companies) that make up the open-LAN ecosystem.

■ Announcement of the policy to promote open LAN activation
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the ‘Open LAN Activation Policy Promotion Plan’ to lead the competition for technological hegemony. The main points are: △Establishing infrastructure to support full-cycle commercialization, △Securing technological and standard competitiveness, and △Creating an ecosystem based on public-private cooperation.

The measures to promote the Open LAN activation policy include: △ introducing equipment from international manufacturers to the Open LAN performance test bed built in Pangyo, thereby expanding testing and verification opportunities for domestic companies; △ establishing an international certification system for Open LAN equipment (K-OTIC); △ supporting commercialization and market entry of Open LAN equipment by domestic companies; and △ holding an international event (Plugfest) twice a year for domestic and foreign companies to verify the interoperability of Open LAN equipment.

In addition, we will expand support for domestic related companies to secure core technology competitiveness. Through the OpenLAN technology development (R&D) project, we will secure core technologies such as OpenLAN components, equipment, and software. Research for the development of domestic and foreign standards and international joint research with major countries such as the US and the UK will also be promoted.

Ultimately, the goal is to create an open-LAN industry ecosystem based on cooperation between the public and private sectors and between large and small businesses. ORIA, a public-private consultative body, promotes the development and advancement of open-LAN technology and takes the lead in discovering and expanding domestic and international open-LAN demand.

ORIA participates in planning and establishing roadmaps for open-LAN technology development (R&D) projects in conjunction with government policies. It leads domestic and international demonstration projects and supports interoperability verification events to create new demand for open-LAN. Actively participate in the establishment of an international certification system for OpenLAN equipment and the process of international standardization of OpenLAN.
At the event, Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho visited the OpenLAN Test Bed of the National Intelligence Service (NIA), which supports testing and verification by domestic companies, observed the OpenLAN-based base station equipment, and discussed the future role and plans of the test bed.

At the booth, successful cases of open LAN standard-based interconnection between large corporations’ DUs (distributed devices) and small and medium-sized enterprises’ RUs (radio units) were exhibited. These cases include: △Samsung Electronics’ 5G base station solution-solid DAS equipment interconnection case for joint entry into the US market, △Nokia-Samji Electronics’ open LAN equipment interconnection test aimed at securing maximum coverage, etc.

Promising domestic small and medium-sized enterprises also showcased the development of open-LAN equipment and presented cooperation plans through ORIA. These include HFR (open-LAN-based RU equipment and front-hole Mux), Innowireless (small cell and open-LAN test equipment), and FRTech (open-LAN standard-based RU).

Minister Lee Jong-ho said, “OpenLAN is attracting attention as a key element for leading the competition for technological hegemony,” and added, “While creating an ecosystem of cooperation and mutual prosperity between the public and private sectors and large and small businesses centered around ORIA, we hope to actively promote international cooperation related to OpenLAN technology and standards to expand advanced technology cooperation such as international joint research in the future.”