Creation of OpenOP: Delivering an Open-Source Operator Platform for 6G Testbed Federation

This press release was originally posted here.

Sophia Antipolis, France – 14 May 2025 – ETSI is pleased to announce the establishment of a new Software Development Group OpenOP (SDG OOP) dedicated to the development of an open-source Operator Platform allowing for operator network (inlcuding 6G!) and testbed federation, along with standardized capability exposure APIs.

As next-generation networks continue to evolve towards 6G, the need for interoperable, open, and developer-friendly solutions across telecom, cloud, and AI domains has become increasingly urgent. ETSI SDG OpenOP aims to address this challenge by developing a standardized, open-source platform that simplifies network service and resource exposure and enables seamless federation across operator platforms.

The platform will serve as a neutral, non-commercial environment where research organizations, SMEs, and telecom players can jointly experiment, co-develop, and test new capabilities in an agile and collaborative manner. It will as well, foster innovation across verticals such as Industrial IoT, automotive, eHealth, and smart agriculture. Born from the EU-funded SUNRISE-6G project, SDG OpenOP will leverage existing GSMA requirements and APIs for federation and will expose Linux Foundation CAMARA service APIs. It will also enable integration with a broad range of southbound platforms such as Kubernetes, 3GPP Network Exposure Functions, ETSI Multi-access Edge Computing and NFV Orchestration.

The new ETSI group will collaborate with key industry players, open-source communities and stakeholders such as GSMA, LF CAMARA, and 3GPP, while enhancing the broader ETSI portfolio of software and standardization initiatives.

Vasileios Theodorou of Intracom Telecom, Convenor of SDG OpenOP, said:

OpenOP represents a new milestone in bringing research, standardization, and open-source communities together under ETSI’s umbrella. By providing an open-source implementation of the Operator Platform ETSI is reinforcing its commitment to industry collaboration, practical innovation and actively supporting the development of future-proof, interoperable network solutions.

The founding members of SDG OpenOP include leading telecom operators, research institutions, and technology providers from across Europe, including Intracom Telecom, Industrial Systems Institute (Athena Research Center), Motorola Mobility, Orange Romania, OTE, Eurecom, Fraunhofer FOKUS, and i2CAT Research Centre. See full list of SDG OOP Members and Participants.

SDG OpenOP will hold its kick-off meeting 1-2 July 2025, in Torino (IT). Participation is open to ETSI members and non-members upon the signature of the SDG Agreement.

For more information, [browse this website] or contact SDGsupport@etsi.org.

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About ETSI

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization responsible for standardization in information and communication technologies (ICT) within Europe and globally. ETSI is officially recognized by the European Union as a European Standards Organization (ESO). ETSI unites telecommunications, broadcasting, and other electronic communications networks and services with the information technology, internet, and consumer electronics industries. ETSI is a global organization with more than 900 member organizations worldwide, drawn from 65 countries and five continents.