ProtO-RU: An O-RAN Split-7.2 Radio Unit using SDRs

2025/12/02 by Zhou, Zhiyu, Khooi, Xin Zhe, Permal, Satis Kumar +1
#FOS: Computer and information sciences #Networking and Internet Architecture (cs.NI)

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2512.02398

Abstract

We present ProtO-RU, the first open source, software-defined O-RAN Split-7.2 Radio Unit built using SDRs and commodity CPUs. Unlike proprietary hardware-based commercial O-RUs, ProtO-RU is built on the open-source srsRAN software stack, and it is fully programmable. We demonstrate that ProtO-RU integrates with the srsRAN and OpenAirInterface5G CU/DU stacks, supports both TDD and FDD duplexing modes, and interoperates with commercial 5G UEs. Our evaluation shows that ProtO-RU remains stable under sustained load with multiple UEs and delivers throughput comparable to Split-8 and commercial O-RUs. ProtO-RU opens up new opportunities for RU-level innovations and lowers the barrier of entry for end-to-end O-RAN research.

Citations

• Campus5G: A Campus Scale Private 5G Open RAN Testbed

Related

• Open RAN: Evolution of Architecture, Deployment Aspects, and Future Directions
• Inter-DU Load Balancing in an Experimental Over-the-Air 5G Open Radio Access Network
• Experimental comparison of 5G SDR platforms: srsRAN x OpenAirInterface
• Toward Next Generation Open Radio Access Network--What O-RAN Can and Cannot Do!
• Prototyping Next-Generation O-RAN Research Testbeds with SDRs