In an exciting leap forward for 5G technology in Europe, Ericsson and O2 Telefónica in Germany have joined forces to accomplish a remarkable feat in the development of 5G Cloud RAN technology. Their groundbreaking Proof of Concept (PoC) deployment at O2 Telefónica’s Wayra innovation hub in Munich showcased the immense capabilities of Ericsson’s first 5G Cloud RAN installation on the continent. The PoC utilized cutting-edge mmWave frequency and a centralized control unit (CU), achieving an impressive end-to-end speed of over 4 gigabits per second.
This milestone collaboration is more than just a technological feat; it also underscores the enormous potential of Cloud RAN for enterprise and industry-specific applications, as well as fixed wireless access (FWA) use cases. One such innovation is the intriguing concept of “Data Shower” in the automotive industry, revolutionizing software updates for vehicles in production lines using mmWave technology for high-bandwidth transfer.
By demonstrating the efficiency and performance of Ericsson’s 5G Cloud RAN solution, this partnership not only paves the way for future innovations but also validates the feasibility of Cloud RAN for macro networks and further reinforces Ericsson’s commitment to Open RAN and cloud-native architecture.
Daniel Leimbach, Head of Customer Unit Western Europe at Ericsson, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “The potential of Cloud RAN for high-performance use cases is immense. It builds upon our work with the cloud-native 5G core we have deployed in O2 Telefónica Germany, enabling a full end-to-end cloud native network. We are very proud to be doing this together with O2 Telefónica.”
Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer of O2 Telefónica, further emphasized their pioneering spirit, stating, “With Cloud RAN, we combine the benefits of open interfaces with the expertise and product quality of European network equipment supplier Ericsson, whose technology we already use for our high-performance 5G core network.”
This groundbreaking achievement is set to revolutionize the European telecommunications landscape. By implementing Ericsson’s cloud-native software solution for 5G Cloud RAN, O2 Telefónica in Germany stands to gain substantial benefits in flexibility, service delivery, and network operations. Moreover, this move sets the stage for other communication service providers to enhance their network flexibility, scalability, and simplification through network automation and RAN programmability.
The incorporation of Cloud RAN into the telecommunications industry marks a pivotal moment in its transformation. Embracing a cloud-native, standardized architecture enables O2 Telefónica to rapidly respond to customer needs, introduce new products and services with unparalleled flexibility, and reap the benefits of faster service delivery, improved scalability, and enhanced cost efficiency.
With Ericsson’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of telecommunications networks, this collaboration builds on their successful Cloud RAN deployments with leading CSPs in North America and Australia, further solidifying their position as industry pioneers.
The integration of Cloud RAN is a significant step in the ongoing network cloudification efforts by Ericsson and O2 Telefónica in Germany, promising a future of enhanced connectivity and limitless possibilities. This milestone achievement signifies a bright and exciting future for 5G technology in Europe and beyond.
