Integration of physical test environments with a cloud-native cellular core

A method for performing testing using a cellular network, the method comprising:

• activating, on the cellular network, a distributed unit (DU) to be used exclusively for an isolated test environment;
• establishing, on the cellular network, a communication path between the DU and a radio unit (RU);
• establishing, on the cellular network, communication between the DU and a centralized unit (CU) to be used as part of the isolated test environment;
• defining, on the cellular network, a test slice that isolates all traffic on the DU from a production slice, wherein the CU services the test slice and the production slice;
• and
• performing testing using the DU.

A non-transitory processor-readable medium for performing cellular network testing, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:

• activate a distributed unit (DU) to be used exclusively for an isolated test environment;
• establish a communication path between the DU and a radio unit (RU);
• establish communication between the DU and a centralized unit (CU) to be used as part of the isolated test environment;
• define a test slice that isolates all traffic on the DU from a production slice, wherein the CU services the test slice and the production slice;
• and
• perform testing using the DU.