O244-P002-0117 Extending the Open-RAN for 5G and Beyond Autonomous Fault and Security Posture Management

We propose to introduce the first Open 5G AI-Ops reference framework designed for adaptable fault and threat monitoring, sophisticated threat detection and diagnosis, and enhancements to the O-RAN specifications. These enhancements will facilitate the deployment of dynamic countermeasures at the 5G RAN edge. In Phase 1, we will present a proof-of-concept reference design and demonstrate a closed-loop, AI-driven xApp-based control system capable of autonomously detecting and mitigating cellular attacks and faults at the RAN edge. Our design will be based on open-source 5G O-RAN compliant reference implementations. At the end of Phase I, we will validate the feasibility of our technical objectives, present proof-of-concept demonstrations, and conduct a preliminary evaluation of the system's performance and other metrics. Our design will integrate widely available open-source projects, such as OpenAirInterface (OAI), O-RAN SC near-RT RIC, and commodity hardware (e.g., Ettus USRP B210 and commercial 5G smartphones).