Dublin, Ireland – 25 April 2023
O-RAN M-Plane (Management Plane) is an open network management interface compatible with multi-vendor wireless networks.
It enables network operators, whether private or large MNOs, to easily configure and optimise a radio access network comprising of network elements from a single or multiple vendors. Consisting of dedicated endpoints that runs between O-DU and O-RU it is responsible for handling all management traffic between different network elements, including the User Plane (U-Plane) and Control Plane (C-Plane).
Based on NETCONF (Network Configuration)/YANG (Yet Another Next Generation), M-Plane takes care of several operations related to the life cycle of the O-RU. This includes features such as:
- “Start-up” installation
- Software Management
- Configuration Management
- Performance Management
- Fault Management
- File Management
M-Plane architecture supports two models, Hierarchical and Hybrid, in which the SMO can also interact directly with the O-RU. M-Plane protocol is end-to-end encrypted through SSH and/or TLS and provides a high level of security by addressing the topics of Integrity, Confidentiality and Authentication.
M-Plane is designed to be highly scalable and flexible, supporting dynamic network slicing, service orchestration, and automated network management.
Why is M-Plane important? Increased complexity and density of 5G Radio Access Networks means that network management automation is essential. This is achieved through the ability to support features like Zero Touch Provisioning and Network Optimisation. Additionally, the business-critical nature of both large-scale MNO networks and private, e.g. industrial networks, require a high level of network performance and reliability and this is supported by M-Plane features such as Performance Management, Fault Management and Software Management.
In other words, what M-Plane enables is the configuration, monitoring, management and distribution of various services to all layers of the network stack and other parts of the system without the need of any obscure and proprietary interfaces. The M-Plane provides a centralised management and control layer for the 5G network, enabling efficient network operations and enhanced service delivery.
What does Benetel offer for M-Plane? By assuring full O-RAN compliance, Benetel can offer M-Plane as an O-RU hardware-agnostic feature. We offer a fully O-RAN compliant M-Plane NETCONF server implementation on our Radio Units that supports both Hierarchical operation with a connection to the DU or Hybrid operation with connections to both the DU and a Network Management System.
Benetel’s M-Plane ticks all the required boxes for the principal features set defined by O-RAN. The independent C/U-Plane, S-Plane and M-Plane data flows are all carried on the same physical fronthaul connection.
Why it is important? The increased complexity and density of 5G Radio Access Networks make network management automation essential. As outlined previously, M-Plane enables the configuration, monitoring, management and distribution of various services to all layers of the network stack and other parts of the system without the need of any obscure and proprietary interfaces – achieved through the ability to support features like Zero Touch Provisioning and Network Optimization.
The M-plane provides a centralized management and control layer for the 5G network, enabling efficient network operations and enhanced service delivery.
What makes Benetel different? Offering full alignment of the O-RU side of M-Plane with O-RAN specification is still unique on the market and sought after by many System Integrators seeking a compliant M-Plane reference.
Benetel launched our O-RU M-Plane completely aligned in detail with the O-RAN specification – this eases the task of integrating with different DU and NMS vendors. On top of the basic feature set, we support fully automated start up sequences that bring the RU from power-on through configuration to RU fully operational in radiating mode. Our platform is prepared for the deployment of further advanced features, for example in energy efficiency.
- O-RAN aligned √
- Automated start up sequences √
- Energy efficiency optimised √
About Benetel
Benetel is introducing a variety of leading-edge Radio Units (RU) for the emerging, disaggregated 5G networks of the future with both indoor and outdoor solutions. Committed to supporting the evolving radio access networks around the world by producing hardware and related services that fully embrace the principle of OpenRAN.
Headquartered in Dublin, the organization’s technically proficient and highly experienced team drive real innovation in the roll-out of small cell infrastructure. With its broad portfolio of outstanding off-the-shelf solutions, covering a wide range of frequency bands and output powers, its services are rounded out with first-class design and test services.
For more information about what Benetel offers the mobile communications market please visit www.benetel.com
For more information, contact
Olivia O’Connell
