The development of 6G wireless technologies is rapidly advancing, with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) entering the pre-standardization phase and aiming to deliver the first specifications by 2028. This paper explores the OpenAirInterface (OAI) project, an open-source initiative that plays a crucial role in the evolution of 5G and the future 6G networks. OAI provides a comprehensive implementation of 3GPP and O-RAN compliant networks, including Radio Access Network (RAN), Core Network (CN), and software-defined User Equipment (UE) components. The paper details the history and evolution of OAI, its licensing model, and the various projects under its umbrella, such as RAN, the CN, as well as the Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) projects. It also highlights the development methodology, Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) processes, and end-to-end systems powered by OAI. Furthermore, the paper discusses the potential of OAI for 6G research, focusing on spectrum, reflective intelligent surfaces, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) integration. The open-source approach of OAI is emphasized as essential for tackling the challenges of 6G, fostering community collaboration, and driving innovation in next-generation wireless technologies.

翻译：6G无线技术的研发正在快速推进，第三代合作伙伴计划（3GPP）已进入预标准化阶段，目标是在2028年前发布首个技术规范。本文探讨了开源项目OpenAirInterface（OAI），该项目在5G演进及未来6G网络发展中发挥着关键作用。OAI提供了符合3GPP与O-RAN标准的完整网络实现，涵盖无线接入网（RAN）、核心网（CN）及软件定义用户设备（UE）组件。本文详细阐述了OAI的发展历程与演进路径、其授权模式以及涵盖的各类子项目，包括RAN、CN以及运营、管理与维护（OAM）项目。同时重点介绍了基于OAI的开发方法论、持续集成/持续交付（CI/CD）流程及端到端系统。此外，本文探讨了OAI在6G研究中的应用潜力，重点关注频谱、智能反射面以及人工智能（AI）/机器学习（ML）融合等方向。文中强调，OAI的开源方法对于应对6G技术挑战、促进社区协作以及驱动下一代无线技术创新具有至关重要的意义。