Robust Uplink Ranging in 5G Networks: An Integrated O-RAN Approach

The widely adopted satellite-based positioning systems have shown limitations in meeting the needs of emerging mobile radio network services, which require consistent, high-quality, real-time positioning data. This study introduces RUN-O-RAN, an innovative network-based ranging system integrated as a micro-service within the 5th generation (5G) Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN). RUN-O-RAN makes opportunistic use of uplink reference signals and is robust against hardware and network impairments. It offers seamless deployment, user transparency, and adaptability to varying application requirements, leveraging the programmability of the network. Through a custom-built testbed based on software-defined 5G base stations (gNBs) and commercial user equipment, we comprehensively evaluate this solution across diverse scenario sets and compare its accuracy against satellite-based positioning. The achieved results demonstrate how this system represents the first effective localization O-RAN micro-service.