Introduction

Workgroup Number

WG7

Workgroup Name

White-Box Hardware Workgroup

Task Groups

• TG1: Deployment Scenarios and BS Classes (Active)

• TG2: Indoor Picocell (IPC), FR1/FR2 (Active)

• TG3: Outdoor Microcell (OMC), FR1, FR2 (Active)

• TG4: Outdoor Picocell (FR1/FR2)

• TG5: Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB, FR2)

• TG6: Outdoor Macrocell (OMAC): (Active)

• TG7: FHGWs for O-RAN and Brownfields (Active)

• TG8: Energy Savings (Active)

• TG9: WhiteBox Test Cases (Active)

Workgroup Charter

To develop hardware reference designs of high performance, spectral and energy efficient white box base stations.

Workgroup Scope

Within this scope any kinds of design material are not precluded, such as documentation of reference hardware and software architectures, detailed schematic of reference design, POC hardware, test cases for verification and certification of all base station types and usage scenarios.  Component selection for example implementation of white box hardware is allowed for WG7, but would not be mandatory in any Specification.  Any WG7 Draft Specifications proposed for adoption as O-RAN Alliance Final Specifications will not include mandatory requirements to use specific chipsets or components.

WG7 may deliver multiple specifications per deployment scenario depending on their deployment use-case and /or architecture (e.g. integrated vs split with multiple LLS options).  Each WG7 white box hardware specification includes information for:

• O-CU; and

• O-DU; and

• O-RU; and

• Fronthaul gateway (if needed)

1. All fronthaul interfaces shall be based on:

2. WG4 (open fronthaul interface group) released interfaces; or

3. O-RAN approved publicly available external interfaces; or

4. fronthaul interfaces made available and published as part of an O-RAN approved WG7 reference design.

Detailed schematic of reference design is used to describe the design of white box hardware. It only contains the components and the interface connection relationship among them. This reference design schematic is an example of how to implement a white box hardware. The schematic is not mandatory for usage to the vendors. Each device may be replaced by other components in specific or alternate implementations according to need for performance enhancement or cost reduction or additional functionality of white boxes. 

Not in scope:

• WG7 shall NOT specify any software specifications for O-CU and O-DU.  However, it may include an O-RU software if needed and if it is submitted and approved as part of a reference design.

Workgroup Co-chairs

China Mobile (CMCC): Jinyu Cao

Verizon (VZW): David Chiang

Qualcomm (QCM): Jack Nasielski

Baicells Technologies (BAI): Li Wang