Tech Mahindra and Northeastern University partner to propel ORAN and 6G innovation

In a landmark development, Tech Mahindra, a global leader in technology consulting and digital solutions, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Northeastern University. This strategic partnership aims to drive innovation in Open Radio Access Networks (ORAN) and 6G connectivity solutions. The collaboration will focus on advancing the research, development, and testing of next-generation wireless networks, catering to a global clientele.

Key Focus Areas of the Collaboration

The partnership will see Tech Mahindra and Northeastern University work together to develop cutting-edge solutions in ORAN and 6G. The initiative will emphasise large-scale testing and certification within the ORAN ecosystem. By leveraging Tech Mahindra’s extensive telecom expertise and Northeastern University’s Open6G Open Testing and Integration Center (OTIC), the collaboration aims to deliver comprehensive testing services. These services will cover compliance, interoperability, performance, and functionality of ORAN products. Notably, the collaboration will utilise innovative technologies like digital twins to accurately replicate real-world conditions for testing purposes.

Manish Mangal, Chief Technology Officer for Telecom and Global Business Head for Network Services at Tech Mahindra, highlighted the significance of this partnership. According to Mangal, “Today, we start a journey of innovation towards a connected future through this MoU with Northeastern University. By combining our expertise, we will create new technology, focusing on testing and verification, enabling our customers to scale at speed. Together, we will advance Open RAN and 6G, transforming ideas into reality and delivering exceptional value.”

Enhancing ORAN Testing and Development

This collaboration is set to become a pivotal platform for ORAN vendors, Communication Service Providers (CSPs), and start-ups. It will provide a collaborative and vendor-independent environment where new concepts and ideas can be tested against ORAN specifications. The initiative will also focus on evaluating network energy efficiency in ORAN deployments, ensuring that products meet high standards of performance, security, and interoperability.

Tommaso Melodia, Director of the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things (WIoT) and William L. Smith Professor at Northeastern University, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. Melodia remarked, “We are thrilled to see Northeastern Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things Open6G R&D Center partnering with Tech Mahindra. This collaboration is aimed at enriching the partnership portfolio of both organizations and promises to drive significant advancements in R&D, testing, and system integration for Open RAN. Together, we will push the boundaries of what is possible and pave the way for future open, programmable, and AI-powered wireless networks.”

The Role of the Open6G R&D Center

The Open6G R&D Center, part of Northeastern University’s Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things, will serve as a government-industry-university cooperative hub. It is dedicated to research, development, testing, and commercialization of open, programmable, disaggregated, and AI-powered 6G systems. The center offers a comprehensive range of testing services, including automated full-stack testing, digital twinning technology for virtualized testing, network energy efficiency evaluations, and interoperability testing of disaggregated base stations. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as RAN and RIC emulators, private 5G RANs with programmable protocol stacks, and the Colosseum – the world’s largest wireless network emulator.