5G is moving indoors, but as wireless operators focus on indoor 5G coverage for high-density public spaces and high-value enterprises, the challenges associated with these spaces are becoming evident. Traditional distributed antenna systems (DAS) that provide coverage require significant resources, including space for headend equipment and power for operation and cooling. This comes at a high cost, both financially and environmentally. As society shifts towards sustainability, these costs are becoming increasingly difficult to justify. However, O-RAN technology and intelligent architectures present a solution to fully digitalize complex indoor networks, resulting in less space and power requirements, making O-RAN a promising avenue for greener, more sustainable indoor 5G networks.
