27 Oct 2022

VM02's 5G DRIVE consortium trials RAN connections

The Virgin Media 02-backed 5G DRIVE (Diversified oRAN Integration & Vendor Evaluation) consortium has announced successful trials of a new secure RAN (radio access network) connection capability for integrating private and public networks to form a network of networks.

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) backed consortium, which also comprises wavemobile, Cisco, Ori and the University of Warwick, has been set up to trial a “new way of connecting networks together which is relatively low cost, secure and scalable and ensure private networks becoming more available for customers”.

The first trials were completed at the wavemobile 5G test lab and, according to VM02, helped establish an end-to-end test system using an SEPP (Security Edge Protection Proxy) roaming interface to connect a public & private 5G network to create a ‘network of networks’.

5G DRIVE has stated its ultimate ambition is to provide a path for tier 2 RAN vendors to enter the market with their products and solutions in support of the government’s diversification agenda. A key element of this is helping private networks integrate into Mobile Network Operators (MNO’s) networks via the new SEPP end-to-end encrypted application interface (N32 c/f) roaming interface architecture with carrier grade security.