Demonstrating 3GPP UL-TDoA positioning integration and evaluation in OAI on the EURECOM testbed

In this demonstration, we will showcase, for the first time, the localization capabilities of OpenAirInterface using the 5G network deployed at EURECOM. During the demo, you will be able to observe the position of a user carrying a smartphone on the terrace at level -2 in real time! The demo utilizes the newly developed Localization Management Function (LMF) running the Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UL-TDoA) positioning method. The LMF communicates with the gNBs over the NRPPa protocol, which has also been integrated into the OpenAirInterface (OAI) platform. The Time of Arrivals (ToAs) are estimated by the gNBs using the Sounding Reference Signals (SRS). The demonstration is conducted on our state-of-the-art positioning testbed at EURECOM. This testbed is equipped with three Outdoor Radio Units (O-RUs) from Firecell, which drive eight distributed antennas strategically deployed to optimize localization accuracy. The demonstration will focus on showcasing the real-time positioning capabilities enabled by UL-TDoA integration. We will assess the system’s performance in terms of positioning accuracy, latency, and reliability. By examining these key performance metrics, we aim to highlight the practical benefits of ULTDoA for various applications, including emergency services, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other location-based services.