Institute for Telecommunication Sciences / Research / 5G / 2022 5G Challenge Event

2022 5G Challenge Event

About

The 2022 5G Challenge Event: RAN Subsystem Interoperability was the first of two 5G Challenge competitions. In this first-year event, NTIA/ITS offered a $3,000,000 prize purse to contestants who successfully integrated hardware and/or software solutions for one or more of these 5G network subsystems:

  • Central Unit (CU)
  • Distributed Unit (DU)
  • Radio Unit (RU)

See the 2022 5G Challenge Official Rules.

5G Open RAN Network Diagram

Stage One – White Papers

During Stage One, contestants applied to participate by submitting a white paper, which required contestants to document 3GPP and O-RAN Alliance specification compliance and subsystem test reports. The most qualified contestants were accepted through early-bird and final submittal phases.

Stage Two – Emulated Integration

In Stage Two, each contestant subsystem was evaluated independently with a wrap-around emulator and test harness. The contestant subsystems underwent testing to evaluate basic functionality and standards conformance. Stage Two challenged the contestants, host lab, and test software because 5G test software and some 5G interface specifications are still emerging.

Stage Two: Wrap-around emulators evaluate individual vendor devices

Each contestant whose subsystem(s) achieved a basic level of functional performance qualified for an Emulated Integration prize of $150,000. Of the contestants who qualified for an Emulated Integration prize, the contestant with the best Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) also received a $200,000 prize.

SBOMs facilitate improved security via vulnerability management by identifying dependencies, patch requirements, license requirements, and risk of cyberattack. Stage Two Contestant SBOMs were evaluated for completeness, intelligibility, depth of dependencies listed, disclosure of known unknowns, and compliance to SBOM format standards.

Stage Three – Network Integration

Stage Three integrated multiple vendor subsystems into an end-to-end network. The final Stage Three network successfully integrated subsystems from five different vendors: user equipment (UE), radio unit (RU), distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU), and Core. In true plug-and-play fashion, contestants approached network integration with no prior experience interoperating with their fellow contestantsʼ subsystems. The 5G Challenge provided a rigorous five-week schedule for contestants to work through diverse issues, from 3GPP software options to discrepant hardware.

Stage Three: Multiple vendors subsystems integrated into vRAN for end-to-end testing

2022 Event Timeline

Host Lab

CableLabs was selected as the host lab and provided expert staff and access to a test lab for the 2022 5G Challenge Event.

During Stage Two, the host lab provided an emulated 5G test system. During Stage Three, the host lab provided two Standalone (SA) 5G cores, and two virtualized Radio Access Networks (vRAN).

See the Host Lab Specification.

Contest Prizes

Stage Two – Emulated Integration Prize

After evaluating Stage Two testing results, the 5G Challenge selected the following contestants to receive an Emulated Integration Prize of $150,000 each: 

  • CU: Capgemini Engineering; Mavenir Systems, Inc.; Signal System Management 
  • DU: Radisys Corp. 
  • RU: Fujitsu Network Communications; Mavenir Systems, Inc.

Stage Three – Network Integration Prize

After evaluating Stage Three testing results, the 5G Challenge selected the following contestants to receive a Network Integration Prize of $250,000 each: 

  • CU: Capgemini Engineering
  • DU: Radisys Corp.
  • RU: Mavenir Systems, Inc.

Best Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) Prize

SBOMs facilitate improved security via vulnerability management by identifying dependencies, patch requirements, license requirements, and risk of cyberattack. 5G Contestant SBOMs were evaluated for completeness, intelligibility, depth of dependencies listed, disclosure of known unknowns, and compliance to SBOM format standards.

A $200,000 prize was awarded to Radisys Corp. in recognition of their comprehensive, informative, and high quality SBOM, which went above and beyond minimum requirements to report vulnerability and risk.

Event Documentation

Videos

2022 5G Challenge Prize Winners Summary

2022 5G Challenge Showcase Video

2022 5G Challenge Prize Winners

Photos

Closing Ceremony Photos Document

NTIA Technical Memo

5G Challenge Preliminary Event: Evaluating Modular, Interoperable, Multi-Vendor, Open RAN Solutions

Press

Press Releases and Blogs

 

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