English

ProtO-RU: An O-RAN Split-7.2 Radio Unit using SDRs

Networking and Internet Architecture 2025-12-03 v1
Authors: Zhiyu Zhou , Xin Zhe Khooi , Satis Kumar Permal , Mun Choon Chan
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Abstract

We present ProtO-RU, the first open source, software-defined O-RAN Split-7.2 Radio Unit built using SDRs and commodity CPUs. Unlike proprietary hardware-based commercial O-RUs, ProtO-RU is built on the open-source srsRAN software stack, and it is fully programmable. We demonstrate that ProtO-RU integrates with the srsRAN and OpenAirInterface5G CU/DU stacks, supports both TDD and FDD duplexing modes, and interoperates with commercial 5G UEs. Our evaluation shows that ProtO-RU remains stable under sustained load with multiple UEs and delivers throughput comparable to Split-8 and commercial O-RUs. ProtO-RU opens up new opportunities for RU-level innovations and lowers the barrier of entry for end-to-end O-RAN research.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2512.02398,
  title  = {ProtO-RU: An O-RAN Split-7.2 Radio Unit using SDRs},
  author = {Zhiyu Zhou and Xin Zhe Khooi and Satis Kumar Permal and Mun Choon Chan},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.02398},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

9 pages, 12 figures

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