A real-time radio intelligent controller (RIC) executes in parallel with one or more virtual radio access network functions to provide real-time analytics and control of the virtual radio access network functions. At least a first processor core is configured to execute a radio network virtual function. The radio network virtual function is configured with a codelet to output selected operational data to a first stream associated with a first stream ID and receive control information from a control stream associated with a second stream ID. At least a second processor core is configured to execute the real-time RIC isolated from the at least the first processor core. The real-time RIC includes one or more dynamically loaded programs configured to: access the first stream; perform processing on the operational data; and write commands for the radio network virtual function to the control stream.