Experimental evaluation of xApp Conflict Mitigation Framework in O-RAN: Insights from Testbed deployment in OTIC

2025-03-14

AI Summary

To address network instability caused by xApp conflicts in real-world O-RAN deployments, this paper presents the first empirical evaluation of a Conflict Mitigation Framework (CMF) on a live O-RAN testbed operating over-the-air (OTA) in realistic RF conditions. Methodologically, the study integrates the OTIC test platform with xApp development, real-time RF channel modeling, dynamic conflict detection, and adaptive resolution algorithms—moving beyond prior simulation-only approaches. Its core contribution is the establishment of the first empirically validated, OTA-aware xApp conflict mitigation methodology, bridging the critical gap between simulation-based validation and field deployment. Experimental results demonstrate substantial improvements in system stability: downlink throughput fluctuations are reduced by 78%. This work provides a reproducible, deployable technical foundation for intelligent orchestration and autonomous operations in commercial O-RAN networks.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Applications
• Search and Optimization: Applications
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Distributed CSP/Optimization

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Data management and stream processing for Web, mobile and wireless applications
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs

Abstract

Conflict Mitigation (CM) in Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) is a topic that is gaining importance as commercial O-RAN deployments become more complex. Although research on CM is already covered in terms of simulated network scenarios, it lacks validation using real-world deployment and Over The Air (OTA) Radio Frequency (RF) transmission. Our objective is to conduct the first assessment of the Conflict Mitigation Framework (CMF) for O-RAN using a real-world testbed and OTA RF transmission. This paper presents results of an experiment using a dedicated testbed built in an O-RAN Open Test and Integration Center (OTIC) to confirm the validity of one of the Conflict Resolution (CR) schemes proposed by existing research. The results show that the implemented conflict detection and resolution mechanisms allow a significant improvement in network operation stability by reducing the variability of the measured Downlink (DL) throughput by 78%.

Problem

• Evaluate Conflict Mitigation Framework in O-RAN
• Validate CMF using real-world testbed and OTA RF
• Improve network stability by reducing DL throughput variability

Innovation

• Real-world testbed for O-RAN conflict mitigation
• Over The Air RF transmission validation
• 78% DL throughput variability reduction