The OpenAirInterface 5G New Radio Implementation: Current Status and Roadmap

OpenAirInterface (OAI) is an open-source project that implements 3GPP technology on general purpose x86 computing hardware and off-the-shelf software defined radio cards like the USRP. At its base OAI implements 4G LTE, but recently we have also started implementing 5G New Radio (NR). In this paper we describe the OAI 5G NR project, the current state of its development, and the roadmap for the future. 5G NR is much more demanding on both processing power, latency, and radio capabilities compared to 4G LTE. At the time of writing, we implemented all the necessary functions to support basic downlink functionality at both gNB and UE showing the feasibility to run 5G NR in real-time on a software defined radio platform. The roadmap is to have a fully standard compliant implementation of 5G NR that is inter-operable with commercial equipment by the end of 2019.