Emerging innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in Open RAN Massive MIMO (mMIMO) solutions will play a pivotal role in improving performance to match that of traditional mMIMO RAN. While traditional RAN providers currently dominate the mMIMO market, the dynamics of Open RAN is growing as technology evolves, with pioneering deployments from carriers like Rakuten and DISH.
Larbi Belkhit, 5G, 6G and Open RAN Research Analyst, said: “Advanced AI and ML techniques are poised to help close the performance gap by improving key capabilities such as beamforming and channel estimation. Integrating these models, likely into the Distributed Unit (DU), will be instrumental for Open RAN providers to maximize spectrum efficiency.
Companies such as DeepSig are already demonstrating that AI-based software can improve the efficiency of mMIMO Open RAN. Its OmniPHY solution leverages ML to improve channel estimation, beam optimization, and interference mitigation in 5G networks. As AI/ML matures, such solutions applied to Open RAN mMIMO will increase performance and power consumption closer to traditional RAN levels.
Larbi Belkhit, 5G, 6G and Open RAN Research Analyst, said: “The integration of AI and ML techniques, along with other innovations in energy efficiency and GPU acceleration, will accelerate performance improvements closer to traditional RAN networks. This will remove critical barriers to Open RAN adoption and pave the way for flexible, interoperable 5G deployments for network operators rather than relying on radio network equipment from traditional vendors that currently dominate the market, such as ‘Ericsson, Huawei and Nokia.
These findings are from ABI Research’s 5G Massive MIMO Market Developments technology analysis report. This report is part of the company’s 5G, 6G and Open RAN research service, which includes research, data and ABI Insights. Based on in-depth primary interviews, Technology Analysis Reports present an in-depth analysis of key market trends and drivers for a specific technology.
