AI-RAN Alliance aims to integrate AI into mobile networks

A new alliance announced during MWC could reshape the future of mobile networks and telecommunications by integrating AI into radio access networks (RAN).

The AI-RAN Alliance brings together tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Samsung, along with major telecom companies including Ericsson, Nokia, SoftBank, and T-Mobile.

The alliance's goals are using AI to enhance mobile network efficiency, reduce power consumption, retrofit existing infrastructure, and...

26 February 2024 | 5G

Vodafone Romania awards Ericsson major 5G RAN contract

Vodafone Romania has selected Ericsson as a key partner to upgrade its radio access network (RAN) infrastructure and roll out 5G technology across the country.

The six-year agreement will see Ericsson provide 5G RAN products and solutions to boost network speeds, reduce latency, and improve reliability for Vodafone customers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ericsson will serve as Vodafone Romania's primary 5G RAN partner, deploying its cutting-edge technology to...

12 February 2024 | 5G

Verizon deploys over 130,000 O-RAN radios

Verizon has deployed over 130,000 O-RAN capable radios – including massive MIMO antennas – as part of 15,000 O-RAN compliant cell sites utilising virtualised baseband units. This marks a major milestone in Verizon’s transition to Open RAN architecture, which promises greater flexibility, innovation, and supplier diversity in the radio access network ecosystem. 

The open and interoperable interfaces enabled by O-RAN standards allow different hardware and software components...

6 February 2024 | 5G

Dell’Oro forecasts RAN market downturn to continue

The global Radio Access Network (RAN) market will continue its downturn over the next few years, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group.

Dell'Oro forecasts that RAN revenues will decline at a compound annual growth rate of one percent through 2024. This comes on the heels of massive 40 percent growth from 2017 to 2021, when the market was boosted by initial 5G network builds.

Growth stabilised in 2022 but is expected to drop sharply in 2023, led by a pullback in...

23 January 2024 | 5G

NTT DOCOMO and NEC successfully test 5G SA using O-RAN equipment in multi-vendor configuration

NTT DOCOMO and NEC have successfully tested a 5G standalone (SA) network using a base station conforming to O-RAN specifications in a multi-vendor configuration.

A software upgrade to NEC’s 5G base station baseband unit operating on DOCOMO’s commercial network transitioned it from a non-standalone system into a standalone using the same hardware.

5G SA networks enable operators to provide services that take full advantage of the latest mobile...

2 December 2021 | 5G

Nok-picky: Nokia partners with Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure

Nokia has announced a flurry of new partnerships with all three of the major cloud providers—Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure.

The Finnish telecom giant’s partnership with Google Cloud will see the companies develop 5G solutions together which combine Nokia’s Radio Access Network (RAN), Open RAN, and Cloud RAN, with Google’s edge computing platform to deliver additional 5G monetisation opportunities for CSPs.

Bikash Koley, VP, Google...

15 March 2021 | Networks

Eight 5G solution providers join Ofcom and Digital Catapult-led OpenRAN initiative

Eight 5G solution providers have joined an OpenRAN initiative led by UK telecoms regulator Ofcom and innovation centre Digital Catapult called SONIC.

The vendor-neutral and interoperable equipment OpenRAN delivers is seen as being the solution to disrupting the perceived monopoly held by the large telecoms vendors—helping to drive innovation, improve security, offer flexibility, and reduce deployment costs.

SONIC (SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre) is a...

25 February 2021 | Legislation & Government

Four major European operators commit to supporting OpenRAN

Four of Europe’s largest operators have committed to supporting and deploying OpenRAN solutions.

In a joint statement today, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, and Vodafone said they are joining forces “to support the rollout of Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) as the technology of choice for future mobile networks to the benefit of consumer and enterprise customers across Europe.”

OpenRAN aims to disrupt the current RAN vendor monopoly with interoperable and...

20 January 2021 | Networks

Nokia finds 5G networks are 90 percent more energy-efficient

Research conducted by Nokia and Telefónica has found that 5G networks are up to 90 percent more energy-efficient than 4G.

The study was conducted over three months and examined the power consumption of Telefónica’s 5G RAN (Radio Access Network).

Juan Manuel Caro, Director of Operational Transformation at Global CTIO at Telefónica, said:

“We are committed to supporting action on climate change and engender a sustainable culture throughout our entire...

2 December 2020 | Networks

Telia will use Ericsson for 5G in Sweden but Nokia in Finland

Telia will use 5G equipment from compatriot Ericsson in its home country but will turn to Nokia for its Finnish operations.

Starting with Telia in Sweden, the company has signed a five-year agreement with Ericsson which it says “brings together two of the region’s wireless pioneers” to provide a great 5G experience for the operator’s seven million customers in Sweden and Estonia.

“With today’s agreement, we have the foundation in place to develop the most...

21 October 2020 | Networks