FCT O-RAN: Design and Deployment of a Multi-Vendor End-to-End Private 5G Testbed

2025-09-01

AI Summary

Deploying high-performance, programmable private 5G networks across heterogeneous vendor equipment remains challenging due to interoperability and integration complexity. Method: This work constructs the first end-to-end cloud-native private 5G testbed supporting both indoor and outdoor scenarios, built upon the O-RAN distributed architecture and integrating heterogeneous commercial components from Affirmed (Microsoft), ENEA, Radisys, Foxconn, and Benetel. It innovatively incorporates Wireless InSite digital twin technology for radio unit (RU) placement optimization, complemented by QualiPoc-based field measurements for performance validation. Contribution/Results: Experimental results demonstrate peak throughputs of 713 Mbps downlink / 66 Mbps uplink (indoor, 50 MHz) and 371 Mbps downlink / 55 Mbps uplink (outdoor, 40 MHz). The platform validates the high performance, flexibility, and scalability of multi-vendor O-RAN integration, establishing a reusable technical paradigm for open, intelligent private 5G network deployment.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Plan Execution and Monitoring
• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Application Domains: Internet of Things, Sensor Networks & Smart Cities

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization
• Responsible Web: Data and user privacy-enhancing technologies for the Web
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics

Abstract

The transformation of 5G networks into software-defined, agile, intelligent and programmable architectures necessitates a paradigm shift in deployment strategies. To deliver superior performance and surpass traditional systems, public and private 5G networks must adopt software-centric cloud native frameworks that enable flexibility through tailored configurations and optimized deployment approaches. In Singapore, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) launched the Future Communications Research and Development Programme (FCP) to advance the nation's communications and connectivity landscape. At the core of this initiative is the Future Communications Translation Lab (FCT) at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), which focuses on advancing 5G technologies to higher readiness levels, facilitating their adoption across various industries. A key component is the deployment of FCT O-RAN, a state-of-the-art multi-vendor private 5G platform. The setup includes a 5G core network powered by Microsoft Affirmed and ENEA, O-RAN Centralized and Distributed Units from Radisys. Indoor Remote Units are deployed with Foxconn, while outdoor RUs are deployed with Benetel. To optimize the deployment of remote units, a digital twin was created using Wireless InSite, and performance evaluations were conducted for both the digital twin and the private 5G deployment. Smartphones equipped with QualiPoc were used to measure network performance. The testbed demonstrated effective performance with optimized bandwidth allocations for both indoor and outdoor environments. In the indoor setup, utilizing 50 MHz of bandwidth, a downlink throughput of 713 Mbps and an uplink throughput of 66 Mbps were achieved. Meanwhile, the outdoor setup, utilizing 40 MHz of bandwidth, achieved a downlink throughput of 371 Mbps and an uplink throughput of 55 Mbps.

Problem

• Designing a multi-vendor private 5G testbed for superior performance
• Optimizing deployment strategies using digital twin technology
• Evaluating network performance in indoor and outdoor environments

Innovation

• Multi-vendor O-RAN architecture for private 5G
• Digital twin simulation using Wireless InSite
• Cloud-native core network with Microsoft Affirmed