5G-CT: Automated Deployment and Over-the-Air Testing of End-to-End Open Radio Access Networks

Deploying and testing cellular networks is a complex task due to the multitude of components involved-from the core to the Radio Access Network (RAN) and the User Equipments (UEs) -- all of which require integration and constant monitoring. Interference and the inherent randomness of the wireless channel further complicate the issue, posing additional challenges for repeatable and consistent testing. Consequently, both private and public cellular systems still rely heavily on human intervention for operations such as network reconfiguration, performance monitoring, and conducting end-to-end drive tests. This reliance significantly slows the pace of innovation in cellular systems. To address these challenges, we introduce 5G-CT, an automation framework based on OpenShift and the GitOps workflow, capable of deploying a softwarized end-to-end 5G and O-RAN-compliant system in a matter of seconds. We have deployed 5G-CT to test the integration and performance of popular open-source cellular stacks, including OpenAirInterface (OAI), and have collected months of over-the-air testing results without the need for human intervention. 5G-CT brings cloud-native Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) to the RAN, effectively addressing the complexities associated with managing spectrum, radios, heterogeneous devices, and distributed components. Moreover, it provides much-needed automation and Continuous Testing (CT) for cellular networks.