O-RAN ALLIANCE Launches Formal CPE Interoperability Certification Program
The O-RAN ALLIANCE confirmed the launch of its formal Open RAN CPE Interoperability Certification Program in Q2 2026, establishing a standardized testing framework that validates multi-vendor compatibility for 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) customer premises equipment. The program addresses what operators have long identified as a critical barrier to open RAN adoption at the device layer: the absence of a unified certification path that guarantees a CPE from Vendor A will perform seamlessly on a gNB from Vendor B using O-RAN split architectures.
For telecom operators, ISPs, and MVNOs procuring CPE at scale, this certification program represents a structural shift in procurement flexibility. The new framework test suite covers O-RAN 7.2x split interoperability, O-DU/O-RU conformance with major RAN silicon platforms, end-to-end throughput validation under loaded network conditions, and beam management performance across multi-vendor mmWave and sub-6GHz configurations.
What the Certification Covers
O-RAN 7.2x Split Validation
The certification’s core testing profile validates CPE behavior across the O-RAN 7.2x functional split — the most widely adopted fronthaul architecture in commercial Open RAN deployments. Certified devices must demonstrate consistent performance across O-DU and O-RU combinations from at least three different silicon ecosystems, including Qualcomm FSM, Intel FlexRAN, and Marvell OCTEON platforms. This multi-platform validation eliminates the single-vendor lock-in that has historically constrained operator equipment sourcing strategies.
End-to-End Throughput Under Load
Certification testing includes sustained multi-user throughput scenarios: 4×4 MIMO configurations at 100 MHz channel bandwidth (sub-6GHz) and 8×8 MIMO at 400 MHz (mmWave), with traffic models simulating real-world operator loading patterns. Devices must maintain at least 95% of rated peak throughput for a minimum of 72 consecutive hours in a multi-cell interference environment.
Security and OAM Interoperability
The framework also validates NETCONF/YANG-based OAM interoperability, ensuring certified CPE can be managed through operator ONAP and SMO frameworks without proprietary middleware. Security certification includes 3GPP SA3-compliant authentication and key agreement, O-RAN security specifications for the R1 interface, and zero-touch provisioning compatibility per BBF TR-369 USP.
Implications for Operator Procurement
The certification program has immediate implications for telecom procurement teams planning 5G FWA rollouts in the second half of 2026 and beyond. Operators in markets such as India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa — where Open RAN is central to greenfield 5G deployment strategies — can now reference a formal O-RAN CPE certification when drafting RFPs. This reduces the technical evaluation burden on procurement teams and provides a defensible basis for multi-vendor sourcing decisions.
For MVNOs and smaller regional operators, the certification lowers the barrier to entry for operating their own CPE supply chains. Rather than being locked into the device portfolios of a single network equipment provider, certified Open RAN CPE enables competitive sourcing from multiple ODMs and OEMs — including Honlly Telecom’s 5G FWA portfolio, which is being prepared for O-RAN certification testing.
Industry Adoption Timeline
The first wave of certified devices is expected to complete testing by Q3 2026, with operator field trials commencing shortly thereafter. Major tier-1 operators in Asia-Pacific and Europe have already signaled that O-RAN CPE certification will become a mandatory requirement in their 2027 FWA procurement cycles. Industry analysts project that certified Open RAN CPE could account for 18–22% of global 5G FWA device shipments by 2028, driven primarily by cost-competitive multi-vendor sourcing and operator desire to reduce RAN vendor dependency.
What This Means for CPE Manufacturers
For CPE OEMs and ODMs, the certification program introduces both opportunity and engineering investment requirements. Manufacturers must integrate O-RAN fronthaul interface compliance into their device roadmaps, implement NETCONF/YANG management interfaces, and complete the multi-platform validation testing — a process expected to require 8–12 weeks of lab testing per device model. However, certified status opens access to operator RFPs that were previously exclusive to vertically integrated equipment vendors, significantly expanding the addressable market for independent CPE manufacturers.
Honlly Telecom is actively engaging with the O-RAN ALLIANCE certification framework and has aligned its 5G FWA CPE development roadmap with the published test specifications. Operators and distributors interested in O-RAN-certified CPE sourcing can contact the Honlly engineering team for pre-certification device specifications and integration support.
Source: O-RAN ALLIANCE press releases and industry analyst briefings, June 2026. For more information on Honlly Telecom’s 5G FWA CPE portfolio and O-RAN interoperability readiness, contact sales@xmhonlly.com.