Viavi Solutions has announced that it will present research, solutions and perspectives on next-generation networking technologies including 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), open radio access network (O-RAN) and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) at IEEE International Communications Conference (ICC), in Denver, Colorado. The company will also showcase the VIAVI automated lab-as-a-service for O-RAN (VALOR).

6G

  • Full AI neural network (NN) transmission – Showcasing VIAVI’s proprietary complete NN receiver in a downlink scenario, utilising 5G-new radio (NR) compliant orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signal (PDSCH) transmission and reception on a custom-built testbed.
  • Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) delay-doppler domain waveform – Orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) is a modulation technique designed to combat the challenges posed by wireless channels’ delay and doppler shift characteristics. VIAVI will demonstrate OTFS’s performance in multi-antenna transmission using a VIAVI proprietary simplified precoder solution and compare it with OFDM.
  • Rate-splitting multiple access in an overloaded network- This demonstration will showcase a VIAVI proprietary technique in the rate splitting multiple access (RSMA) scheme, designed to mitigate multi-user interference in overloaded networks where transmitter antennas are fewer than the users.

High-fidelity digital twin

VIAVI is collaborating with the Institute for Wireless Internet of Things and the Open 6G cooperative research centre at northeastern university on large-scale radio frequency (RF) propagation channel modelling based on AI and machine learning (ML) technologies to develop a city-scale digital twin of a 6G network. VIAVI and northeastern university will demonstrate:

  • Use of AI/ML to augment ray tracing for RF propagation modelling to drive the digital twin.
  • Conducting real-world measurement campaigns in the northeastern Boston campus using the VIAVI ranger rugged RF capture and playback instrument.
  • Incorporating higher-layer key performance indicators (KPIs) in the digital twin, to more effectively model effects of network conditions on application performance.

Open RAN and NTN

  • VALOR – VALOR, made possible by a $21.7 million grant from the US NTIA Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF), provides fully automated, open, and impartial testing and integration for O-RAN. VALOR provides a pathway to certification in the US for new entrants, startups and academia. Access to VALOR is free for academic institutions and NTIA co-grantees, subject to availability.
  • NTN – VIAVI and Rohde & Schwarz will jointly demonstrate an end-to-end NTN-NR testbed for the lab, evaluating end-to-end user app performance over NTN links.
  • RAN intelligent controller (RIC) test – An energy-saving rApp integrated with a non-real-time remote intervention control (non-RT RIC) will be demonstrated with the VIAVI TeraVM RIC test. This rApp uses intelligent procedures based on ML to optimise cell control, achieving significant energy savings without compromising service quality in realistic scenarios.
  • O-RAN security test. O-RAN distributed unit/ O-RAN centralised unit (O-DU/O-CU) security will be validated using the VIAVI O-RAN security suite.

In addition, Dr Sameh Yamany, chief technology officer, VIAVI will deliver a keynote address on telecom digital twins and their role in future technologies maturity. Moreover, Dr Paul Harris, principal wireless architect, VIAVI, will participate in a panel discussion on bridging the gap, channel sounding and modelling for joint communications and sensing.