In a pioneering move, Liberty, a Puerto Rican telecom operator, is partnering with Samsung Networks Latin America to test advanced virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) and Open RAN technologies in Puerto Rico. This initiative marks a significant technological milestone. Liberty becomes the first telecom company in Puerto Rico and Latin America to incorporate these cutting-edge 5G solutions.
The core innovation here is vRAN technology, which empowers mobile network operators to execute baseband functions on standard servers, effectively decoupling hardware from software. This leads to increased flexibility and efficiency, differentiating it from traditional RAN setups. Víctor Vera, Liberty’s senior director of RAN technology, highlights that vRAN and Open RAN allow for greater agility. Centralizing cell site data in Liberty’s cloud-native data center, supported by the latest software-centric implementations, results in streamlined implementation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Moreover, Liberty, which already boasts an impressive 97.5% 5G coverage in Puerto Rico, plans to utilize these technologies to further expand its reach with minimized hardware dependency. This advancement promises a faster and more efficient network rollout.
On the industry’s broader spectrum, Samsung continues to demonstrate its leadership in next-generation network infrastructure. Carlos Alberto Aguilar Palafox, head of Samsung Networks Latin America, regards the introduction of vRAN and Open RAN in Puerto Rico as an exciting development. It’s a step that not only bolsters existing 5G capabilities but also sets the stage for future innovation.
Earlier, Samsung announced enhancements to its 5G vRAN solutions, aiming to optimize performance and enhance power efficiency. The advanced vRAN software introduces new smart features like increased bandwidth support for Massive MIMO radios and automated network management to reduce energy consumption. These advancements signal a move towards the next phase of network virtualization.
