O-DU (O-RAN Distributed Unit)

O-DU in context

The radio access network is the layer where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations, downgrade attacks and jamming, and defenses hinge on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

Telecom networks depend on Internet-style routing (BGP, DNS, MPLS) for interconnect, transport and application delivery. Route hijacks and DNS abuse can degrade or intercept signaling as easily as any application-layer attack, which is why RPKI and DNSSEC are now standard hardening for carrier networks.

To place O-DU in the wider telecom-security picture, review O-CU, O-RU, Open Fronthaul, Satellite Backhaul, OFDMA and RAN.

Related terms

• O-CU
• O-RU
• Open Fronthaul
• Satellite Backhaul
• OFDMA
• RAN
• O-Cloud
• OFDM

Equipment

O-RAN units and RIC (O-RU, O-DU, O-CU, RIC, SMO)

• A1 Interface
• Cloud RAN
• E2 Interface
• Fronthaul
• Midhaul
• Near-RT RIC
• Non-RT RIC
• O-Cloud
• O-CU
• O-RAN Alliance
• All 21 terms

Articles in the P1 mobile network security guide

Related topic hubs

• 5G Penetration Testing Pentesting the 5G core, SBA, SEPP, and gNB interfaces.
• Diameter Attacks S6a IDR/PUR/CLR abuse, subscriber tracking, LTE signaling attacks.
• 5G Security 5G SBA, SEPP, SUCI, 5G-AKA, N32 and service-based interface security.
• 5G NEF Security Network Exposure Function security in the 5G core.

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.