OCUDU Adds 5G Satellite Connectivity to Open-Source RAN Platform

The Linux Foundation-hosted OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation has released OCUDU 26.10, introducing 3GPP Release 17 Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) support to its open-source 5G radio access network platform. The update expands the software's capabilities beyond terrestrial networks, providing developers with a foundation for building and testing satellite-integrated 5G systems.

The release adds NTN functionality to OCUDU's open-source Centralised Unit and Distributed Unit (CU/DU) software, alongside support for O-RAN Split 7.2b, 8T8R MIMO, enhanced beamforming and multi-beam operation. These capabilities are intended to improve radio performance and provide greater flexibility in how network processing is distributed across hardware and software components.

Other additions include two-step random access, uplink pre-scheduling and configured grants to reduce connection and transmission latency. Native 5G positioning support also enables development of location-aware applications, while expanded fuzz testing, OSS-Fuzz participation and DTLS signalling encryption strengthen the platform's security and software validation processes.

The foundation says the project has gained 95 new members since its launch, with its active contributor base doubling. The new capabilities will be explored at the OCUDU Ecosystem Developer Summit in Alexandria, Virginia, on 20–22 October, bringing together network operators, equipment vendors, researchers and software developers.