Deploying and testing cellular networks is a complex task due to the multitude of components involved -- from the core to the Radio Access Network (RAN) and User Equipment (UE) -- all of which requires integration and constant monitoring. Additional challenges are posed by the nature of the wireless channel, whose inherent randomness hinders the repeatability and consistency of the testing process. Consequently, existing solutions for both private and public cellular systems still rely heavily on human intervention for operations such as network reconfiguration, performance monitoring, and end-to-end testing. This reliance significantly slows the pace of innovation in cellular systems. To address these challenges, we introduce 5G-CT, an automation framework based on OpenShift and the GitOps workflow, capable of deploying a softwarized end-to-end 5G and O-RAN-compliant system in a matter of seconds without the need for any human intervention. We have deployed 5G-CT to test the integration and performance of open-source cellular stacks, including OpenAirInterface, and have collected months of automated over-the-air testing results involving software-defined radios. 5G-CT brings cloud-native continuous integration and delivery to the RAN, effectively addressing the complexities associated with managing spectrum, radios, heterogeneous devices, and distributed components. Moreover, it endows cellular networks with much needed automation and continuous testing capabilities, providing a platform to evaluate the robustness and resiliency of Open RAN software.

翻译：部署和测试蜂窝网络是一项复杂任务，原因在于涉及核心网、无线接入网（RAN）和用户设备（UE）等众多组件——所有这些都需要集成和持续监控。无线信道的固有随机性给测试过程的可重复性和一致性带来了额外挑战。因此，现有的私有和公共蜂窝系统解决方案仍然严重依赖人类干预来执行网络重配置、性能监控和端到端测试等操作。这种依赖性大大减缓了蜂窝系统的创新速度。为应对这些挑战，我们提出5G-CT——一个基于OpenShift和GitOps工作流的自动化框架，能够在无需任何人工干预的情况下，在数秒内部署符合O-RAN标准的软件化端到端5G系统。我们已部署5G-CT来测试包括OpenAirInterface在内的开源蜂窝协议栈的集成与性能，并收集了长达数月的、涉及软件定义无线电的自动化空口测试结果。5G-CT将云原生持续集成与交付引入RAN，有效解决了频谱、无线电、异构设备和分布式组件管理中的复杂性。此外，它赋予蜂窝网络亟需的自动化和持续测试能力，为评估Open RAN软件的鲁棒性和弹性提供了平台。