As 5G networks mature and Open RAN and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) become mainstream, the complexity of validating Radio Access Network (RAN) performance is increasing dramatically. Traditional testing frameworks, built largely around simulators and protocol conformance tools, are struggling to keep pace.

While these legacy tools provide valuable structure and control, they often fall short when it comes to capturing the real-world dynamics of modern mobile networks:

• Diverse user equipment and chipsets
• Variable traffic patterns and app behaviours
• Live mobility and handover scenarios
• New use cases like slicing, NTN, and private 5G

Industry analysts increasingly highlight this growing gap. Simulators can confirm protocol compliance - but not how a gNB behaves under unpredictable, real-world conditions.

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Why RAN Testing Needs a Refresh

• Complexity is exploding

Global 5G subscription are projected to top 5.9 billion by 2027 (Ericsson Mobility Report). Operators must now navigate disaggregated networks, multi-vendor RAN stacks, and a fast-growing range of UE types - from NB-IoT, smartphones to NTN terminals.

• Legacy Tools are Hitting Their Limits

A 2024 Heavy Reading survey found that 68% of operators delay gNB deployment due to post-rollout defects - many of which arise from limitations of lab-only testing.

• Open RAN and Cloud-Native RAN Raise the Bar

Disaggregated architectures introduce frequent and faster update cycles, dynamic software behaviors, and cross-vendor integration points, making test automation and real-world validation essential, not optional.

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The solution? A smarter, hybrid testing strategy - one that blends lab-based simulation with real-device validation and AI-powered insight to ensure true field readiness.

This is where AutoRAN steps in.
It adds a powerful layer of intelligence to RAN testing, bridging the gap between controlled lab environments and the unpredictability of live networks. With AutoRAN, traditional workflows evolve into smarter, more adaptive validation pipelines - built for modern, dynamic networks.

The AutoRAN Edge: Intelligence Meets Real-World Validation

AutoRAN delivers a next-generation upgrade to legacy RAN testing by combining AI-driven insights, real-device validation, and CI/CD automation - enabling faster, smarter, and more comprehensive test coverage. AutoRAN transforms traditional workflows into smarter, more adaptive validation pipelines.

 

1. AI-Driven Test Intelligence

Modern RANs generate vast volumes of logs across protocol layers - often underutilized in legacy test workflows. AutoRAN transforms this data into real-time insights with its advanced AI engine.

• Smarter Log Analytics
  AutoRAN ingests multi-protocol logs including PCAP, NGAP, X2AP, and F1AP, applying machine learning to detect anomalies, correlate faults, and generate MOS-based QoE scoring - turning raw data into actionable intelligence in real time
• Speed & Precision at Scale
  AutoRAN rapidly uncovers edge-case failures like mid-call handovers or chipset-specific issues that scripted tools often miss - reducing triage time and boosting release confidence.

With AI at its core, AutoRAN shifts RAN testing from reactive debugging to proactive quality assurance - accelerating release cycles and increasing confidence in every deployment.

 

2. Real-Device Validation at Scale

Legacy test environments rely heavily on simulated traffic and virtual UEs, which lack the nuance of real-world device behavior. AutoRAN closes this gap by introducing real devices - smartphones, modems, and NTN-capable UEs into your RAN validation process.

• Device Realism

            AutoRAN captures true behavior across OS versions, chipsets, and mobility conditions - exposing issues simulators simply can’t replicate. This provides a more accurate picture of product readiness in the field.

• Hybrid Execution at Scale
  With AutoRAN, teams can execute large-scale simulator-based tests in parallel with real-device sessions - combining the breadth of emulation with the depth of live-device analysis. This hybrid approach uncovers more defects without extending test timelines, ensuring greater test coverage and faster feedback loops.

Field readiness isn’t just about passing protocol tests. It’s about how networks behave under real-world conditions. By replicating live traffic patterns, real-time handovers, and authentic user interactions, AutoRAN ensures that your RAN infrastructure performs not just in theory—but in practice.

 

3. CI/CD & Automation Ready

In the era of continuous integration and rapid network evolution - especially within Open RAN and cloud-native environments – testing must keep up. Automated, intelligent testing is no longer optional.

• DevOps Integration
  AutoRAN is built for modern workflows. It integrates with Jenkins, GitLab, and Bitbucket via RESTful APIs and custom scripts - enabling continuous regression, automated nightly runs, and tight feedback loops.
• Self-Healing Test Workflows
  Powered by AI, AutoRAN not only identifies anomalies but adapts dynamically to test environment changes, configuration drifts, and vendor updates – minimizing manual overhead and maximizing resilience.

With AutoRAN, testing becomes a continuous, intelligent layer within your delivery lifecycle - accelerating validation, reducing risk, and ensuring field readiness with every commit.

 

4. Validating Next-Gen Scenarios

Modern RAN deployments are no longer monolithic. AutoRAN extends testing into areas simulators weren’t built for:

• Multi-Vendor Open RAN
  Ensures layered interoperability across disaggregated DU/CU/RU components in multi-vendor setups.
• NTN & Doppler Scenarios
  Simulates satellite and high-altitude conditions including Doppler shift, variable latency, and intermittent coverage.
• Network Slicing & QoS
  Validates slice-specific behaviour, QoS enforcement, and service-level integrity in real usage conditions
• Mobility Edge Cases
  Captures mid-call handovers, latency spikes, and stress scenarios often missed in controlled lab settings.

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As RAN deployments evolve beyond terrestrial, monolithic stacks, AutoRAN ensures your validation strategies evolves with them.

Smarter RAN Testing Starts Here ……. with AutoRAN

AutoRAN doesn’t replace traditional simulators - it enhances them. Here’s how it transforms key validation workflows:

 

Test Focus	Legacy Approach	AutoRAN Advantage
Protocol Validation	Simulated UEs only	Validates real device signaling across chipsets and OS variants
Load Testing	High-scale emulated UE traffic	Adds edge-case load behavior from actual devices
Mobility & NTN	Scripted transitions and static test paths	Validates Doppler, latency spikes, and mid-call handovers with real UEs
QoE Testing	Basic KPIs metrics like throughput and latency	AI-driven MOS scoring for true voice/video quality assessment
DevOps Integration	Manual scripts or static tools	REST API-enabled CI/CD and dynamic automation

 

With AutoRAN, you retain the scale and control of simulators - while gaining the authenticity, agility, and intelligence of the field, required for next-gen RAN assurance.

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Why It Matters: Speed, Reliability, and Market Readiness

Modern RAN testing isn’t just about catching bugs - it’s about accelerating time-to-market, reducing deployment risks, and delivering seamless user experiences.

 

AutoRAN delivers:

• Faster releases through hybrid automation and fewer regression cycles
• Improved reliability by catching real-world issues early
• Operational efficiency with AI-powered proactive root cause analysis
• Proven scalability, backed by market trends - 5G device testing is projected to grow from $1.63B in 2024 to $2.57B by 2029 (CAGR: 9.8%)

 

And the industry shift is clear:

• The global RAN automation market is expected to expand significantly through 2033 (ResearchAndMarkets)
• The AI-driven RAN and traffic optimization market is projected to reach $27 billion by 2034, growing at a 28% CAGR (Market.us)

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Final Takeaway

AutoRAN doesn’t just enhance traditional RAN testing - it redefines it. By combining real-device validation, AI-driven intelligence, and modern automation, it empowers network teams to:

• Accelerate release cycles
• Improve network reliability
• Validate true end user experience - without replacing existing tools

As Open RAN, virtualization, and NTN reshape network architectures, testing must evolve just as rapidly. Real-device validation and AI-powered automation are no longer optional - they’re essential foundations for future-ready RAN assurance.

In a next-gen world of Open RAN, NTN, and virtualization, AutoRAN is not just an upgrade - it’s your competitive edge.

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Ready to see AutoRAN in action?

Connect with us for a demo or pilot and discover how AutoRAN can integrate into your lab, CI/CD pipeline, or field validation strategy.

Curious how AutoRAN can plug into your test lab or DevOps pipeline? Reach out for a demo or pilot! Visit: www.amantyatech.com or email us at connect@amantyatech.com