5G Radio Access Network (5G RAN) Certification

Did you know that Open RAN deployments are projected to account for over 30% of global RAN revenue by 2027, with operators across every region moving towards multi-vendor, cloud-native radio architectures that demand a fundamentally new level of RAN engineering expertise? This compelling industry shift underscores the critical importance of advanced 5G RAN knowledge for professionals working in modern mobile network environments.

Course Overview

The 5G Radio Access Network (5G RAN) Certification course by Alpha Learning Centre is meticulously designed to equip radio engineers, network planners, and RAN architects with essential skills in mastering 5G New Radio architecture, implementing massive MIMO and beamforming systems, and deploying Open RAN and cloud RAN solutions. This course focuses on 5G NR physical layer design, CU/DU/RU functional splits, O-RAN Alliance specifications, carrier aggregation, and RAN optimisation methodologies to ensure participants can effectively navigate the sophisticated landscape of modern 5G radio access network engineering across both Non-Standalone and Standalone deployments.

Why Select This Training Course?

Selecting this 5G RAN Certification course offers numerous advantages for professionals involved in radio access engineering, network planning, and mobile infrastructure deployment. Participants will gain advanced knowledge of 5G NR physical layer design including flexible numerology, massive MIMO, and beamforming, Open RAN architecture and O-RAN Alliance interface specifications, and cloud-native RAN deployment models. The course provides hands-on exposure to real-world 5G RAN engineering scenarios, enabling attendees to design, optimise, and troubleshoot 5G radio networks with technical depth and practical confidence.

For organisations, investing in this training reduces integration risk in multi-vendor RAN environments and accelerates 5G deployment timelines. By ensuring that RAN engineering teams understand both the physical layer and the architectural frameworks of 5G NR, organisations make more effective vendor decisions, achieve better spectrum utilisation, and manage Open RAN interoperability challenges from a position of knowledge. Research from Nokia’s Open RAN deployment documentation demonstrates how multi-vendor 5G RAN programmes integrating cloud software with third-party radio units require precise understanding of CU/DU functional splits, O-RAN interface specifications, and cloud-native RAN orchestration competencies developed systematically throughout this course.

Individuals who complete this course will benefit from enhanced career prospects as they establish themselves as credible 5G RAN specialists. The skills acquired through this training can lead to professional growth and senior technical responsibilities within mobile operators, RAN vendors, and Open RAN ecosystem participants. Studies from the GSMA confirm that 5G NR and Open RAN expertise is among the highest-value and most actively recruited skill sets in the global telecoms job market, with demand driven by operator rollouts, Open RAN ecosystem growth, and the ongoing transition of legacy RAN infrastructure to cloud-native architectures.

Transform your RAN engineering capabilities Register now for this critical advanced training programme.

Who Should Attend?

This course is suitable for:

• RAN engineers and radio frequency (RF) engineers
• Network planners and radio access design specialists
• Massive MIMO and antenna system engineers
• Open RAN and cloud RAN architects and engineers
• 4G RAN engineers transitioning to 5G NR environments
• Network optimisation and performance engineers
• Technical project managers overseeing 5G RAN deployments
• Systems integrators working on multi-vendor RAN solutions

What are the Training Goals?

This course aims to:

• Explain 5G NR architecture including gNB, CU/DU/RU functional splits, and fronthaul interfaces
• Describe the 5G NR physical layer including numerology, frame structure, resource grids, and channel types
• Understand massive MIMO, beamforming, beam management, and spatial multiplexing in 5G NR
• Analyse 5G NR uplink and downlink transmission procedures and scheduling mechanisms
• Explain Carrier Aggregation, Dual Connectivity (EN-DC, NR-DC), and multi-band operation
• Describe Open RAN architecture, O-RAN Alliance specifications, and multi-vendor interoperability
• Evaluate cloud RAN deployment models including virtualised DU and CU on common hardware
• Apply 5G RAN planning principles for coverage, capacity, and interference management
• Perform 5G RAN optimisation and troubleshoot performance issues using KPIs and drive test data

How will this Training Course be Presented?

The 5G Radio Access Network (5G RAN) Certification course employs a comprehensive and innovative approach to ensure maximum knowledge retention and skill development. Expert-led instruction from radio engineers with hands-on 5G NR deployment experience forms the core of the course, providing up-to-date insights into both the physical layer engineering and the architectural evolution of modern RAN environments.

The course utilises a blend of theoretical understanding and practical applications, allowing participants to apply their knowledge to realistic engineering scenarios. Advanced educational methodologies create a personalised and engaging learning journey through:

• Instructor-led sessions by experienced 5G RAN engineers and architects
• In-depth physical layer and protocol analysis sessions with detailed technical diagrams
• Practical exercises in RAN planning, beamforming configuration, and performance analysis
• Open RAN lab scenarios exploring multi-vendor integration challenges
• Troubleshooting workshops using real-world KPI data and drive test outputs
• Group discussions on cloud RAN deployment strategies and Open RAN ecosystem dynamics

Join us now and elevate your 5G RAN engineering expertise to new heights!

Course Syllabus

Module 1: 5G RAN Architecture and Evolution

• Evolution from 4G eNB to 5G gNB architecture
• NG-RAN (Next Generation Radio Access Network) fundamentals
• Standalone (SA) vs. Non-Standalone (NSA) deployment architectures
• gNB functional architecture: CU, DU, and RU components
• Control Plane and User Plane separation (CUPS)
• Centralized RAN (C-RAN) and Distributed RAN (D-RAN) architectures
• Functional split options and CU-DU split implementations
• Fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul interfaces
• Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) architecture​

Module 2: 5G New Radio (NR) Fundamentals

• 5G spectrum: FR1 (sub-6 GHz) and FR2 (mmWave) frequency ranges
• Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) configurations
• OFDM waveform and cyclic prefix fundamentals
• Flexible numerology and subcarrier spacing (15, 30, 60, 120, 240 kHz)
• Slot structure, mini-slots, and self-contained slots
• Resource grid, resource blocks, and resource elements
• Bandwidth parts (BWP) and bandwidth adaptation
• UE categories and capability classes​

Module 3: 5G NR Physical Layer

• Physical channel architecture: PDSCH, PUSCH, PDCCH, PUCCH, PBCH, PRACH
• Physical signals: reference signals (DMRS, CSI-RS, SRS, PT-RS), synchronization signals (PSS, SSS)
• SS/PBCH block structure and transmission
• Channel coding: LDPC for data channels and Polar codes for control channels
• Modulation schemes: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM
• Transport block processing and segmentation
• HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) procedures
• Scheduling and resource allocation mechanisms
• DCI (Downlink Control Information) and UCI (Uplink Control Information) formats​

Module 4: Massive MIMO and Beamforming Technologies

• MIMO fundamentals: SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO
• Massive MIMO antenna systems and array architectures
• Analog, digital, and hybrid beamforming techniques
• Beam management procedures and beam sweeping
• CSI (Channel State Information) acquisition and feedback
• Codebook-based and non-codebook-based transmission
• Antenna ports and virtualization
• Precoding and spatial multiplexing
• Active Antenna Units (AAU) and TRP (Transmit-Receive Point) concepts
• Beam correspondence and reciprocity​​

Module 5: 5G RAN Protocols and Procedures

• NR protocol stack: RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, and Physical Layer
• RRC states: RRC_IDLE, RRC_INACTIVE, and RRC_CONNECTED
• Initial access and cell selection procedures
• Registration procedures and mobility management
• Connection establishment and PDU session setup
• Paging and notification procedures
• Handover procedures: intra-gNB, inter-gNB, and inter-RAT
• Dual connectivity procedures and bearer management
• RAN slicing and slice selection​

Module 6: Open RAN (O-RAN) Architecture

• Open RAN principles and O-RAN Alliance specifications
• O-RAN architecture: O-CU, O-DU, O-RU, and O-Cloud
• Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) framework
• RAN Intelligent Controllers: Near-RT RIC and Non-RT RIC
• xApps and rApps development and deployment
• Open fronthaul interface and CPRI evolution
• E2, A1, O1, and O2 interface specifications
• AI/ML integration in O-RAN
• Multi-vendor interoperability and testing​​

Module 7: Carrier Aggregation and Dual Connectivity

• Intra-band and inter-band carrier aggregation
• Contiguous and non-contiguous carrier aggregation
• Component carrier configuration and activation
• Primary cell (PCell) and secondary cell (SCell) management
• EN-DC (E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity) architecture
• NR-DC, NE-DC, and NGEN-DC configurations
• Master node and secondary node coordination
• Traffic splitting: PDCP-level and MAC-level aggregation
• SCG bearer and split bearer configurations​​

Module 8: Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)

• DSS fundamentals and deployment scenarios
• LTE-NR spectrum coexistence mechanisms
• MBSFN-based and non-MBSFN-based DSS
• Rate matching and resource allocation in DSS
• Control channel coordination between LTE and NR
• DSS scheduler operation and prioritization
• Performance optimization in DSS deployments
• Spectrum refarming strategies​

Module 9: 5G RAN Network Planning and Design

• Coverage and capacity planning fundamentals
• Link budget calculation for 5G NR
• Propagation models and path loss estimation
• MAPL (Maximum Allowable Path Loss) calculation
• Site selection and cell planning strategies
• Indoor and outdoor deployment scenarios
• Small cell and HetNet planning
• Network dimensioning and traffic modeling
• Interference analysis and mitigation​

Module 10: 5G RAN Optimization and Performance Management

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): accessibility, retainability, mobility, throughput
• Drive testing and network benchmarking
• RF optimization: PCI planning, RACH optimization, power control
• Neighbor relation management and ANR (Automatic Neighbor Relations)
• Handover optimization and mobility parameter tuning
• Coverage hole identification and resolution
• Capacity optimization and load balancing
• Inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC)
• SON (Self-Organizing Networks) features​​

Module 11: Advanced 5G RAN Features

• Network slicing in RAN: slice-specific configurations
• RAN slicing and RAN Intelligent Controllers (RIC)
• Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) integration
• Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB)
• Sidelink and V2X communications
• Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and satellite integration
• RedCap (Reduced Capability) devices
• Positioning and location services in 5G
• Energy efficiency and power saving mechanisms​

Module 12: 5G RAN Signaling and Call Flows

• Initial access and beam acquisition procedures
• Registration and authentication call flows
• PDU session establishment signaling
• RRC connection establishment and release
• Handover signaling analysis
• Dual connectivity setup and modification procedures
• Paging and service request flows
• Network slicing signaling
• Log file analysis and trace decoding​

Module 13: 5G RAN Security

• 5G security architecture overview
• Authentication and key agreement (AKA) procedures
• Encryption and integrity protection in RAN
• Security context management
• Handover security procedures
• User plane security
• Network domain security
• Security in Open RAN environments​

Module 14: 5G RAN Testing and Troubleshooting

• RAN performance testing methodologies
• Drive test procedures and tools
• Scanner measurements and spectrum analysis
• Protocol analysis and signaling troubleshooting
• Common RAN issues: coverage problems, handover failures, throughput degradation
• Root cause analysis techniques
• Counter analysis and alarm management
• Inter-vendor integration testing​​

Module 15: 5G-Advanced and Future RAN Evolution

• 3GPP Release 18 and 5G-Advanced features
• Enhanced MIMO and beamforming capabilities
• AI/ML-native RAN operations
• XR (Extended Reality) optimization
• Ambient IoT support
• Network energy efficiency enhancements
• 6G vision and RAN evolution roadmap
• Future spectrum and technology trends

Training Impact

The impact of 5G RAN training is evident through various real-world deployment programmes and technical data, which demonstrate the effectiveness of structured engineering education in enabling successful Open RAN integrations and multi-vendor 5G network deployments.

Research indicates that organisations implementing structured 5G RAN training programmes demonstrate measurable benefits in deployment quality and multi-vendor integration outcomes. A case study from Nokia, Deutsche Telekom, and Fujitsu’s commercial Open RAN deployment in Germany showed that integrating Nokia’s cloud RAN software with Fujitsu radio units across O-RAN interfaces required precise understanding of CU/DU splits, open fronthaul specifications, and cloud-native RAN orchestration delivering performance parity with traditional single-vendor systems while achieving energy efficiency improvements and eliminating vendor lock-in, outcomes directly enabled by the technical competencies this course develops.

These case studies highlight the tangible benefits of implementing advanced 5G RAN engineering expertise:

• Improved multi-vendor integration outcomes through systematic understanding of O-RAN interface specifications and cloud-native RAN orchestration methodologies
• Enhanced network performance through comprehensive knowledge of massive MIMO, beamforming configuration, and interference management techniques
• Increased deployment efficiency through structured understanding of CU/DU functional splits and fronthaul design requirements
• Strengthened optimisation capability through systematic application of 5G KPI analysis, drive testing, and performance troubleshooting frameworks

By investing in this advanced training, organisations can expect to see:

• Significant improvement in 5G RAN deployment quality and multi-vendor integration success rates
• Improved ability to manage complex Open RAN environments with advanced orchestration and interoperability frameworks
• Enhanced decision-making capabilities through comprehensive 5G radio engineering knowledge and RAN optimisation expertise
• Increased organisational agility through advanced 5G RAN capability and reduced dependency on single-vendor solutions

Transform your career and organisational performance Enrol now to master the 5G Radio Access Network (5G RAN) Certification!