Open RAN International Accredited Testing Center 'Korea OTIC' Opened in South Korea

On 7th December 2023, Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced the establishment of Korea OTIC (Open Testing and Integration Centre) at the 2nd Techno Valley in Pangyo, with TTA (Telecommunications Technology Association), ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), telecommunication companies, manufacturers, and others.

Open RAN (Radio Access Network) is a technology that can interlink equipment from various manufacturers. Due to the nature of the technology, interoperability with third-party equipment and networks must be guaranteed for commercialization and global expansion of open RAN equipment. Until now, even if South Korea's small and medium-sized businesses develop open RAN equipment, they had to use previously established OTIC such as the U.S., Japan, and Europe to obtain international certification.

However, with the opening of Korea OTIC, small and medium-sized companies that cannot afford to build their own testing and verification infrastructure can conduct open RAN equipment conformance and interoperability tests in Korea for free and easily obtain international certification.

TTA and ETRI have established open RAN-based test and measurement equipment and test environment in Pangyo and Daejeon to open Korea OTIC from April this year and obtained final approval for the operation of the International Accreditation Laboratory in October. The three mobile carriers (SKT・KT・LGU) will also participate as a co-host for Korea OTIC.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) launched the 'Open RAN Industry Alliance (ORIA)', a public-private consultative body, and is pursuing an open RAN activation policy. The three mobile carriers announced the results of the global interoperability verification event (PlugFest).

As the organizer of PlugFest in the first half of this year, KT has established an open RAN base station that combines the wireless device (RU) of domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SOLiD・FRTek) and the distributed device (DU) of Nokia. LG U+ will also continue to cooperate with Samji Electronics and Innowireless to test and verify open RAN equipment. SKT developed an indoor open RAN solution and drove the suitability test of equipment from small and medium-sized domestic manufacturers such as HFR and Samji Electronics.

TTA announced that Korea OTIC is responsible for issuing three types of international certifications for the performance of open RAN equipment itself, compatibility with other manufacturers' equipment, and operational performance within the entire network environment. By 2027, OTIC facilities and equipment will be continuously upgraded and also provide infrastructure for hosting PlugFests.

To create an open RAN ecosystem, the government will carry out "open RAN demonstration project" in earnest that creates initial demand by installing and operating open RAN equipment of domestic companies in certain spaces such as large stadiums, exhibition halls and commercial facilities starting next year. The National Information Society Agency (NIA), which is in charge of the open RAN demonstration project, announced that it will provide equipment manufacturers with experience in demonstration and telecommunication companies with opportunities to verify the open RAN system.

Hong Jin-bae, head of the Network Policy Division of the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "This year is a year when efforts such as technology development and infrastructure construction to revitalize Open RAN by the Ministry of Science and ICT have paid off in earnest," adding, "The government will continue to make efforts to develop the domestic Open RAN industry and secure global leadership by expanding international cooperation such as expanding Open RAN demonstrations and fostering talent."

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Read the full article by ETNEWS (in Korean) here.