In a groundbreaking move, AT&T has selected Ericsson as the primary supplier for its Open RAN equipment, set to handle 70% of its wireless traffic by the close of 2026. The five-year agreement, valued at an impressive $14 billion, signals a significant shift in the North American telecommunications landscape. Under the deal, Ericsson will replace some of Nokia’s equipment in specific areas of AT&T’s network.
Japanese telecommunications giant NTT Docomo is set to revolutionize its commercial network with the adoption of Nokia’s Open RAN compliant 5G AirScale baseband kit. The comprehensive deployment includes both Centralized Unit (CU) and Distributed Unit (DU) software, emphasizing Nokia’s industry leadership in the mobile communication sector.
In an exciting move, Vodafone and Arm have united to innovate within the telecom industry, developing an adaptable platform with Arm-based processors ideal for Open RAN base stations. Their collaborative effort showcases both parties’ commitment in enriching the competitive Open RAN landscape, offering robust computational power for 5G services and improved energy efficiency. In addition, illustrious companies like SynaXG, Ampere Computing, and Fujitsu are lending their expertise to test and validate this technology. The joint venture also presents opportunities for Vodafone to reach its net-zero targets.
Vodafone is expanding its devotion to Open RAN technology, joining forces with Nokia in a progressive venture in Italy. The initiative aligns with Vodafone’s Open RAN directive, largely centered in the UK, and extends influence to the Italian telecom landscape. With this first commercial 5G Open RAN pilot in Italy, they aim to prove Nokia’s Open RAN solution matches the functionality and quality of traditional RAN. With an eye on promoting automated, adaptable networks for the ever-growing demand of responsive 5G services, such innovation bolsters the EU’s digital sovereignty and global competitiveness.
Telecom giants Vodafone and Orange are breaking new ground with the first real-life 4G calls over a common shared network in an Open RAN setting. Stemming from a landmark endeavor near Bucharest, this initiative provides a glimpse into the potential strengths of an Open RAN-based network. What’s more? The progress doesn’t halt at 4G. The duo are set to soon take down another first – operating 2G and subsequently 5G, over shared Open RAN sites. Both operators see this as a model for extending mobile networks throughout rural Europe.
Five nations have formed a global alliance, ambitiously named the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT), a promising step towards international cooperation in the telecommunication arena. Set to modernize Open RAN, enhance 6G, and resolve security issues linked to China, this consolidates the efforts of five major entities across UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the U.S. The coalition aims to better integrate policy matters and drive growth within the industry. However, uncertainty looms over the form this alliance will take in future, prompting intense interest within the telecom sector.
Swedish telecom giant, Ericsson, is making strides in harnessing the virtues of Open and Cloud RAN through a series of noteworthy offerings and trailblazing collaborations. Recent ventures with Telefónica on joint Cloud RAN trials underline a shared vision for a dynamic, open network architecture. This exploration goes beyond mainstream, incorporating automation and intelligent orchestration, with potential benefits to macro networks and enterprise applications alike. Ericsson’s commitment to open standards is further emphasized through successful deployment of radio hardware ready for next-gen open fronthaul technology and an intriguing pledge to offer an expansive Open RAN portfolio by next year.
The unveiling of Apple’s four new iPhone models sparked a surprising underwhelm in the tech community. Meanwhile, debates rose regarding China’s nimble navigation around US tech embargoes, especially regarding iPhone use. No less intriguing were the discussions around Open RAN – tech pioneers revisited this initiative with the UK’s recent efforts to regain Open RAN momentum.
Prominent UK telecom companies like BT, VMO2, and Vodafone have been selected beneficiaries of government funding for research into Open RAN technology. Innovative projects, with a focus ranging from energy efficiency to security, will share in the £88 million ($121 million) funding. The main goal is to figure out whether Open RAN can rival traditional RAN, especially in high-traffic areas and rural deployments, in terms of cost, reliability and energy consumption.
Deutsche Telekom, in collaboration with AirHop, Juniper Networks, VIAVI Solutions, and VMware, has been testing the waters to leverage telecom technology bound by Open RAN specifications. Treading an intriguing path of innovation, they trialed Non-RT RIC technology by performing a RAN closed-loop optimization proof, embraced by ONAP and Open RAN standards. The journey unfolded two pivotal use case scenarios revolving around PCI optimization and energy-saving dynamics powered by AI and machine learning.
