NFV-MANO Support for Orchestration and Management of the Virtualized RAN

In this paper we assess the compatibility between the NFV-MANO framework and the O-RAN architecture and solutions specified by the O-RAN Alliance. Before monetizing the benefits of virtualizing the radio access network (RAN), several challenges and impediments need to be addressed, especially about orchestration and management. To this end, we identify common technical areas related to orchestration and management and assess the potential relevance of standardization activities performed by ETSI NFV and the O-RAN Alliance. Key challenges are also analyzed for the case where the NFV-MANO architectural framework is leveraged to support the orchestration and management of the virtualized RAN.