diff --git a/common/utils/CMakeLists.txt b/common/utils/CMakeLists.txt
index fc113ffa46..948c9f8301 100644
--- a/common/utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/common/utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ add_subdirectory(nr)
 add_subdirectory(LOG)
 add_subdirectory(threadPool)
 add_subdirectory(time_manager)
-add_library(utils utils.c system.c time_meas.c time_stat.c tuntap_if.c reverse_bits.c fsn.c)
+add_library(utils utils.c system.c time_meas.c time_stat.c tuntap_if.c bits.c fsn.c)
 target_include_directories(utils PUBLIC .)
 target_link_libraries(utils PRIVATE ${T_LIB})
 add_subdirectory(barrier)
diff --git a/common/utils/reverse_bits.c b/common/utils/bits.c
similarity index 99%
rename from common/utils/reverse_bits.c
rename to common/utils/bits.c
index 7fc1d27254..d329660821 100644
--- a/common/utils/reverse_bits.c
+++ b/common/utils/bits.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-CSSL-1.0
  */
 
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 // we avoid assertions.h as it necessitates othe dependencies (e.g., exit_function)
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <simde/x86/gfni.h>
diff --git a/common/utils/bits.h b/common/utils/bits.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4d266ec53a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/utils/bits.h
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-CSSL-1.0
+ */
+
+#ifndef BITS_H_
+#define BITS_H_
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include "assertions.h"
+
+uint64_t reverse_bits(uint64_t in, int n_bits);
+void reverse_bits_u8(uint8_t const* in, size_t sz, uint8_t* out);
+
+static inline int count_bits(uint8_t *arr, int sz)
+{
+  AssertFatal(sz % sizeof(int) == 0, "to implement if needed\n");
+  int ret = 0;
+  for (uint *ptr = (uint *)arr; (uint8_t *)ptr < arr + sz; ptr++)
+    ret += __builtin_popcount(*ptr);
+  return ret;
+}
+
+static __attribute__((always_inline)) inline int count_bits64(uint64_t v)
+{
+  return __builtin_popcountll(v);
+}
+
+static __attribute__((always_inline)) inline int count_bits64_with_mask(uint64_t v, int start, int num)
+{
+  uint64_t mask = ((1LL << num) - 1) << start;
+  return count_bits64(v & mask);
+}
+#endif /* BITS_H_ */
diff --git a/common/utils/nr/nr_common.h b/common/utils/nr/nr_common.h
index 228e51feb2..078da2158c 100644
--- a/common/utils/nr/nr_common.h
+++ b/common/utils/nr/nr_common.h
@@ -262,28 +262,7 @@ static inline int get_num_dmrs(uint16_t dmrs_mask )
   return(num_dmrs);
 }
 
-static inline int count_bits(uint8_t *arr, int sz)
-{
-  AssertFatal(sz % sizeof(int) == 0, "to implement if needed\n");
-  int ret = 0;
-  for (uint *ptr = (uint *)arr; (uint8_t *)ptr < arr + sz; ptr++)
-    ret += __builtin_popcount(*ptr);
-  return ret;
-}
-
-static __attribute__((always_inline)) inline int count_bits64(uint64_t v)
-{
-  return __builtin_popcountll(v);
-}
-
-static __attribute__((always_inline)) inline int count_bits64_with_mask(uint64_t v, int start, int num)
-{
-  uint64_t mask = ((1LL << num) - 1) << start;
-  return count_bits64(v & mask);
-}
-
 void warn_higher_threequarter_fs(const int n_rb, const int mu);
-
 uint64_t from_nrarfcn(int nr_bandP, uint8_t scs_index, uint32_t dl_nrarfcn);
 uint32_t to_nrarfcn(uint64_t dl_CarrierFreq);
 uint8_t set_ssb_case(int scs, int nr_band);
diff --git a/common/utils/reverse_bits.h b/common/utils/reverse_bits.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 697ed61052..0000000000
--- a/common/utils/reverse_bits.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-CSSL-1.0
- */
-
-#ifndef REVERSE_BITS_H_
-#define REVERSE_BITS_H_
-
-#include <stddef.h>
-#include <stdint.h>
-
-uint64_t reverse_bits(uint64_t in, int n_bits);
-void reverse_bits_u8(uint8_t const* in, size_t sz, uint8_t* out);
-
-#endif /* REVERSE_BITS_H_ */
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/CODING/nrLDPC_coding/nrLDPC_coding_aal/nrLDPC_coding_aal.c b/openair1/PHY/CODING/nrLDPC_coding/nrLDPC_coding_aal/nrLDPC_coding_aal.c
index 534d103929..e4ceb359c1 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/CODING/nrLDPC_coding/nrLDPC_coding_aal/nrLDPC_coding_aal.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/CODING/nrLDPC_coding/nrLDPC_coding_aal/nrLDPC_coding_aal.c
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include "../nrLDPC_coding_interface.h"
 #include "nrLDPC_coding_aal.h"
 #include "PHY/sse_intrin.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include <common/utils/LOG/log.h>
 #include "common/config/config_paramdesc.h"
 #include "common/config/config_userapi.h"
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/CODING/nrPolar_tools/nr_polar_procedures.c b/openair1/PHY/CODING/nrPolar_tools/nr_polar_procedures.c
index 9379a507e2..4db0e876b9 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/CODING/nrPolar_tools/nr_polar_procedures.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/CODING/nrPolar_tools/nr_polar_procedures.c
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "PHY/CODING/nrPolar_tools/nr_polar_defs.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/NR_REFSIG/dmrs_nr.c b/openair1/PHY/NR_REFSIG/dmrs_nr.c
index 0e8246cce1..2f04026a70 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/NR_REFSIG/dmrs_nr.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/NR_REFSIG/dmrs_nr.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "PHY/NR_REFSIG/dmrs_nr.h"
 #include "log.h"
 #include "nfapi/open-nFAPI/nfapi/public_inc/nfapi_nr_interface.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 
 uint8_t allowed_xlsch_re_in_dmrs_symbol(uint16_t k,
                                         uint16_t start_sc,
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_pbch.c b/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_pbch.c
index 70d43ed8aa..ccc4eb0405 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_pbch.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_pbch.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #include "PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_transport_proto.h"
 #include "PHY/sse_intrin.h"
 #include "executables/softmodem-common.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include "openair1/PHY/NR_REFSIG/nr_refsig.h"
 #include "openair1/PHY/NR_REFSIG/nr_mod_table.h"
 #include "openair1/PHY/TOOLS/tools_defs.h"
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_ulsch_decoding.c b/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_ulsch_decoding.c
index 9cb6e22c03..f907362ad9 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_ulsch_decoding.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_ulsch_decoding.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_dlsch.h"
 #include "SCHED_NR/sched_nr.h"
 #include "defs.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include "common/utils/LOG/log.h"
 #include <syscall.h>
 // #define DEBUG_ULSCH_DECODING
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/pucch_rx.c b/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/pucch_rx.c
index fd6bd8ea42..0063ac9fda 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/pucch_rx.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/pucch_rx.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #include "nfapi/oai_integration/vendor_ext.h"
 #include "nfapi/oai_integration/vendor_ext.h"
 #include "SCHED_NR/sched_nr.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 
 #include "T.h"
 #include "nr_phy_common.h"
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/NR_UE_TRANSPORT/nr_pbch.c b/openair1/PHY/NR_UE_TRANSPORT/nr_pbch.c
index 7e1d6ccb92..89f868b210 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/NR_UE_TRANSPORT/nr_pbch.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/NR_UE_TRANSPORT/nr_pbch.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include <openair1/PHY/TOOLS/phy_scope_interface.h>
 #include "PHY/nr_phy_common/inc/nr_phy_common.h"
 #include "openair1/PHY/NR_REFSIG/nr_refsig.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include "instrumentation.h"
 //#define DEBUG_PBCH
 //#define DEBUG_PBCH_ENCODING
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/NR_UE_TRANSPORT/pucch_nr.c b/openair1/PHY/NR_UE_TRANSPORT/pucch_nr.c
index 7ae1a04dbf..ad0c29de1e 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/NR_UE_TRANSPORT/pucch_nr.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/NR_UE_TRANSPORT/pucch_nr.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #include "PHY/NR_TRANSPORT/nr_transport_common_proto.h"
 #include <openair1/PHY/CODING/nrSmallBlock/nr_small_block_defs.h>
 #include "common/utils/LOG/log.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include "openair1/PHY/NR_REFSIG/nr_refsig.h"
 
 #include "T.h"
diff --git a/openair1/PHY/nr_phy_common/src/nr_phy_common.c b/openair1/PHY/nr_phy_common/src/nr_phy_common.c
index 5e71d0b285..f7e6592b0e 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/nr_phy_common/src/nr_phy_common.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/nr_phy_common/src/nr_phy_common.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "nr_phy_common.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include <complex.h>
 #ifdef __aarch64__
 #define USE_128BIT
diff --git a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulschsim.c b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulschsim.c
index c5b8723908..1eef6fda51 100644
--- a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulschsim.c
+++ b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulschsim.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_COMMON/nr_mac_common.h"
 #include "executables/nr-uesoftmodem.h"
 #include "nfapi/oai_integration/vendor_ext.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 
 //#define DEBUG_NR_ULSCHSIM
 
diff --git a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
index 7e74f26f56..eac4290f77 100644
--- a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
+++ b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/ulsim.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 #include "common/openairinterface5g_limits.h"
 #include "common/ran_context.h"
 #include "common/utils/LOG/log.h"
+#include "common/utils/bits.h"
 #include "common/utils/T/T.h"
 #include "common/utils/nr/nr_common.h"
 #include "common/utils/threadPool/thread-pool.h"
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_COMMON/nr_mac_common.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_COMMON/nr_mac_common.c
index d65b080176..6003693126 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_COMMON/nr_mac_common.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_COMMON/nr_mac_common.c
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <math.h>
 #include "nr_mac.h"
 #include "nr_mac_common.h"
-#include "common/utils/nr/nr_common.h"
+#include "common/utils/bits.h"
 #include <limits.h>
 #include <executables/softmodem-common.h>
 
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
index f7b239ab38..b43f16c019 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 /* utils */
 #include "assertions.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include "oai_asn1.h"
 #include "common/utils/LOG/log.h"
 #include "LAYER2/nr_rlc/nr_rlc_oai_api.h"
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_scheduler.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_scheduler.c
index 15c59716be..47ee80a529 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_scheduler.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_scheduler.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #include "oai_asn1.h"
 #include "SIMULATION/TOOLS/sim.h" // for taus
 #include "utils.h"
-
+#include "bits.h"
 #include <executables/softmodem-common.h>
 #include "openair2/LAYER2/nr_rlc/nr_rlc_oai_api.h"
 #include "RRC/NR_UE/L2_interface_ue.h"
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_RA.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_RA.c
index 3341455e45..a1220c9df7 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_RA.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_RA.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 /* Utils */
 #include "common/utils/LOG/log.h"
-#include "common/utils/nr/nr_common.h"
+#include "common/utils/bits.h"
 #include "UTIL/OPT/opt.h"
 
 /* rlc */
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_primitives.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_primitives.c
index 6e2e4970a0..3dc39f9612 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_primitives.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/gNB_scheduler_primitives.c
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
 
 #include "NR_MAC_gNB/nr_mac_gNB.h"
 #include "NR_MAC_gNB/mac_proto.h"
+#include "common/utils/bits.h"
 #include "common/utils/LOG/log.h"
-#include "common/utils/nr/nr_common.h"
 #include "UTIL/OPT/opt.h"
 
 #include "openair2/LAYER2/nr_rlc/nr_rlc_oai_api.h"
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/nr_radio_config.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/nr_radio_config.c
index ad3b4997dc..9f8f9b7314 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/nr_radio_config.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/nr_radio_config.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include "openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_gNB/mac_proto.h"
 #include "openair3/UTILS/conversions.h"
 #include "LAYER2/nr_rlc/nr_rlc_asn1_utils.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 
 #include "NR_MeasurementTimingConfiguration.h"
 #include "uper_decoder.h"
diff --git a/openair2/NR_UE_PHY_INTERFACE/NR_IF_Module.c b/openair2/NR_UE_PHY_INTERFACE/NR_IF_Module.c
index 21e95164e7..f00eebf321 100644
--- a/openair2/NR_UE_PHY_INTERFACE/NR_IF_Module.c
+++ b/openair2/NR_UE_PHY_INTERFACE/NR_IF_Module.c
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include "NR_MAC_UE/mac_proto.h"
 #include "assertions.h"
 #include "SCHED_NR_UE/fapi_nr_ue_l1.h"
-#include "reverse_bits.h"
+#include "bits.h"
 #include "openair2/RRC/NR_UE/L2_interface_ue.h"
 
 #define MAX_IF_MODULES 100
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/verify_RRC.c b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/verify_RRC.c
index 42d3204d27..60bdee462e 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/verify_RRC.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR_UE/verify_RRC.c
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-CSSL-1.0
  */
  
- #include "rrc_proto.h"
+#include "rrc_proto.h"
+#include "common/utils/bits.h"
  
 static bool check_resourcesForInterference(const NR_CSI_MeasConfig_t *meas, NR_CSI_ResourceConfigId_t res_id, bool is_CSIIM)
 {