YO-RAN at Mobile World Congress 2025: Pioneering Open RAN Innovation in Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Open Radio Access Networks (YO-RAN) project is a collaborative initiative led by the University of York, in partnership with the University of Sheffield, various suppliers, and network operators, many of which are based in and around Yorkshire. Funded with approximately £4.8 million from the UK government’s Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) Future Open Networks Research Challenge, YO-RAN aims to develop Open RAN components and a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) for Neutral Host Networks. This approach allows multiple operators, as well as private or enterprise-based networks, to use the same infrastructure, promoting a more open and competitive supplier ecosystem.
A key focus of YO-RAN is the development of low-cost, generic Open Radio Units (O-RUs) with configurable multiband capabilities, which are currently unavailable in the market. The project also emphasises creating efficient fronthaul interfaces to connect these O-RUs with suitable Open Distributed Units (O-DUs). All components are designed to be configurable via a RIC, enabling dynamic responsiveness to network users’ needs. By advancing Open RAN technology, YO-RAN seeks to strengthen the UK’s telecom capabilities and lay the foundation for a new industry in the Yorkshire region.
At Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain, we had the opportunity to interview Professor Alister Burr from the University of York, a leading figure in the YO-RAN project. In the interview, Professor Burr discusses how the project got started, the technical advancements in distributed, or cell-less, Massive MIMO, and what the future holds for YO-RAN.
