Evaluation of OSS-Enabled OpenRAN Compliant 5G StandAlone Campus Networks

Open source software (OSS) implementations of 5G campus networks are essential for facilitating researchers to evaluate and validate use cases and applications using customized 5G network configurations. These configurations provide specific performance, such as guaranteed bandwidth, low latency, high reliability, and increased flexibility. To realize a campus network that is both adaptable and cost-effective, it is imperative to overcome the limitations imposed by vendor lock-ins. This objective can be accomplished through the adoption of open network architectures and software-defined networking concepts, which enable the realization of 5G networks using non-proprietary and programmable hardware. Furthermore, the utilization of accessible OSS helps reduce licensing costs while expanding the possibilities for customization. Thus, this research paper presents a modular, cost-efficient, future-proof, and flexible 5G standalone campus network deployed at the Technische Universität Berlin, designed for research and validation of candidate use cases in the drive towards Open Campus Networks. The paper presents a qualitative evaluation of the different OSS RAN implementations, as well as a comparative analysis of performance achieved by different combinations and interworking of radio access and core network software frameworks.