Digital Twin for O-RAN Toward 6G

In future wireless systems beyond 5G and 6G, addressing diverse applications with varying quality requirements is essential. Open radio access network (O-RAN) architectures offer the potential for dynamic resource adaptation based on traffic demands. However, achieving real-time resource orchestration remains a challenge. Simultaneously, digital twin (DT) technology holds promise for testing and analyzing complex systems, offering a unique platform for addressing dynamic operation and automation in O-RAN architectures. Yet, developing DTs for complex 5G/6G networks poses challenges, including data exchanges, ML model training data availability, network dynamics, processing power limitations, interdisciplinary collaboration needs, and lack of standardized methodologies. This article provides an overview of O-RAN architecture, and its trends and challenges, proposing the DT concepts for O-RAN with solution examples showcasing its integration into the framework.