Radio Access Networks (RAN) have traditionally been vertically integrated systems, where single vendors provided tightly coupled hardware and software stacks. These systems, though highly optimized, were often over-provisioned for worst-case scenarios, resulting in inefficiencies across real-world deployments. The transition to 5G—and the upcoming demands of 6G—has introduced a wider variety of deployment scenarios and performance requirements. This evolution is driving the need for more dynamic, scalable, and adaptable RAN architectures that can respond in real time to changing network conditions. Key drivers such as energy efficiency, accelerated feature rollouts, varied cell types, and the integration of AI are pushing the RAN to evolve.  

To address these demands, industry groups like the O-RAN Alliance and AI-RAN Alliance are promoting open, cloud-native RAN solutions built on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. These efforts aim to disaggregate the traditional RAN stack and embrace modern cloud technologies. In this talk, we will explore the rationale behind Cloud RAN, examine the major industry trends and architectural shifts underway, and discuss the challenges faced in this transformation. We’ll also look ahead at how these innovations may define the future of wireless infrastructure.

• Cloud RAN Basics
• The general concept of virtualizing the RAN
• Industry Trends
• Things like Cloud RAN market share and telco commitments, hardware and cloud platform players, and so on.
• Transformation of RAN
• Areas where the traditional RAN is transforming and how Cloud RAN is a part of that.
• Things like O-RAN, automation, AI RAN, 6G.
• Challenges
• Historical, current, and and future challenges
• Big picture prediction of the future.