JET Engineering System Solutions (JET-ESS) proposed innovative project develops libraries and routing algorithms for 5G Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) protocol as part of an Open 5G RAN stack. This project includes the solution exploration of Open 5G srsRAN, design, development and integration of IAB protocols, gNodeB and 5G capabilities, constructing the world's-first 5G Open RAN IAB radio stack (ORIAB).

This stack enables the removal of fibre between 5G base stations, delivering a lower environmental impact for telecom installations on land. Also benefiting ourselves, by enabling maritime communications to work as a floating network. These floating networks specifically benefit and accelerates the installation of offshore wind, addressing currently limited to no communications during the installation and commissioning phases.

Development of the ORIAB stack enables a fully integrated transparent non-proprietary protocol for backhaul communications, changing possibilities for 5G radio installation, owing for mm wave comms where several radios can backhaul data via a single method. In rural economies this enables "last mile" off-grid connectivity, used for example in the "Emergency services network" and for ourselves to enable a floating maritime-mobile-network. This not only accelerates the route to net zero with enabling industry 4.0 at sea, also reducing and removing the impact of the digital divide within rural communities on land.

IAB 5G networks enables data access and stimulates collaboration across net-zero energy sectors, accelerating the development of shared and open digital resources. These networks provide mobile, continuous, and diverse coverage, addressing current market needs through the employment of high-speed communication capabilities, continuous multi-sensor monitoring, data collection and edge processing. This accelerates offshore wind deployments as part of a net-zero energy system, through improved simultaneous operation and reduced reliance on carbon intensive surveying processes, improving overall sustainable operations via improved communication and data accessibility.

The development of ORIAB involves utilising and developing open source 5G RAN stacks, as well as game-changing innovation to develop and configure existing hardware to support the 5G IAB protocols. This involves the development of original open source software and libraries which support IAB, made available through several open gateways including GitHub. JET-ESS will utilise existing customer based relationships with Scottish Power and other stakeholders to support and ensure adoption of the ORIAB as an open source application.

This project makes dramatic technical improvements on 5G in the private network sector, as an emerging market, solutions have not yet been substantially set.