The RIC is key to Open RAN network programmability and automation
Looking past the TCO benefits associated with Open RAN, the real value operators are chasing (and vendors are working to prove out and monetize) has to do with new, innovative ways of operating disaggregated networks. There’s consensus that, with regard to Open RAN, the real innovative potential sits in the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). A good analogy–potentially coined by Baker–is like an app store where operators can select particular xApps and rApps that turn network telemetry into potential actionable steps for various types of optimizations.
