ORIA

Established in August 2023 in Korea, the Open RAN Industry Alliance (ORIA) is a mission-driven public-private organization supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)

Open RAN is being actively deployed and driven by leading ICT nations globally. Unlike traditional networks, Open RAN, integrated with AI, aims for a market-driven network structure. By incorporating openness, intelligence, and automation, it establishes an innovative intelligent operational framework that can efficiently respond to the rapidly evolving changes in the telecommunications market and societal landscape.

Open RAN started with the disaggregation of base station functions, the separation of hardware and software, distributed deployment, and the orchestration of network resources, alongside O-RAN interfaces for multi-vendor interoperability. The addition of an innovative AI-native layer, which integrates intelligent management and control layers atop existing base stations, has revolutionized previous generation networks. Leading global ICT nations are establishing Open RAN innovation funds to support Open RAN technology, company ecosystems, and specialized workforce development, strategically backing industry-academic collaboration ecosystems.

Amid these domestic and international Open RAN initiatives, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) developed an Open RAN strategy in 2022. This led to the creation of the Open RAN Industry Alliance (ORIA) and the initiation of projects for Open RAN R&D, global workforce development, and proof-of-concept initiatives in the following year. These efforts aim to boost domestic Open RAN competitiveness in the next generation of telecommunications innovation.