Towards Intelligent Mobility Management: Customized Handover in 5G O-RAN Networks

Abstract

In an increasingly densely populated network environment, a customised handover mechanism is essential to ensure service continuity, user experience quality and more efficient use of radio resources. Compared to traditional approaches, adaptive handover enables a dynamic response to actual traffic conditions, improving overall network performance. This work explores the potential of 5G mobile networks based on Open RAN architecture, focusing on the implementation of a customised handover mechanism. Using the OpenAirInterface platform and the FlexRIC framework, an xApp was developed that can monitor user throughput in real-time and dynamically activates a handover when throughput drops below a predefined threshold. The approach demonstrates the flexibility of the O-RAN architecture and the effectiveness of standardised APIs and service models in supporting intelligent network decisions. The results show how the integration of programmable functionality in the Near-RT RIC improves network performance and enables more adaptive mobility management.