Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the telecommunications landscape, ushering in a new era of networks that are not only open, but inherently intelligent. At the heart of this transformation lies the Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN or O-RAN), a paradigm that fosters interoperability, programmability, and agility through virtualized, cloud-native infrastructure and standardized open interfaces. This presentation delves into the evolution of Open RAN as a foundational platform for AI-native telecom systems. We explore how closed-loop, AI-driven control mechanisms are enhancing the efficiency, adaptability, and resilience of 5G and future 6G networks. Drawing on recent advances from the NextG Wireless Lab at NC State University, we present a suite of intelligent RAN control applications, including, IMPACT xApp, Radar Detection xApp. In addition, we introduce ORANSight-2.0, a family of large language models (LLMs) purpose-built for O-RAN knowledge representation and reasoning. Finally, we introduce AI5Gtest, a novel AI-driven framework for automated testing of 5G O-RAN networks. We conclude with a forward-looking perspective on how AI will continue to reshape the future of AI-native telecom networks, positioning how Open RAN provides a critical foundation for that vision.
Dr. Vijay K. Shah is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University, where he leads the NextG Wireless Lab, a research group at the forefront of innovations in next-generation wireless systems. He is also the co-founder and CEO of WiSights, a startup developing large language model (LLM) solutions tailored for next-generation telecom networks. Dr. Shah's research encompasses a range of topics including 5G/6G systems, Open RAN, dynamic spectrum sharing, and AI/LLM for wireless networks. His work is supported by leading federal and state agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). He is a recipient of CAREER award 2024. He is also a co-author of Fundamentals of O-RAN, the first comprehensive book on Open RAN technology.
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