Impact of O-RAN on Small Cell Deployments

Abstract

The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture has emerged as a transformative approach in wireless networks, enabling greater flexibility,
reduced costs, and vendor diversity. Small cells play a critical role in improving coverage and capacity, especially in urban and rural areas. This
paper examines the suitability of O-RAN for small cell deployments, highlighting its advantages, technical adaptations, use cases, and challenges.
Simulation results and existing implementations are analyzed to underscore O-RAN’s potential in this domain.