Open Ran, because Tim joins Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Vodafone
Tim joins Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone in the European Open Ran project, to support the development and implementation of open solutions for new mobile access networks
After the plans to ban Huawei, in Europe we are moving towards the duopoly of Ericsson and Nokia for the deployment of 5G networks.
But European telecommunications companies are aiming for “open” 5G networks.
And that is why at the beginning of the year the four European mobile operators, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica, Vodafone and Orange, published a joint “memorandum of understanding” for the development of the Open Radio Access Network (Open Ran) technology. The goal is to introduce greater competition in the radio segment and also encourage the entry of new players.
Last week, the Italian Tim also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the four European telecommunications companies to promote Open Ran technology.
All the details on the standardization project of the open and intelligent Ran (Radio Access Network).
WHAT OPEN RAN TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES
As Politico explained, Open Ran encapsulates the idea of breaking up the 5G supply chain into smaller pieces.
The Open Ran model provides the possibility to use devices, equipment and applications from different suppliers. Thus ensuring interoperability through the definition of open standard interfaces.
Furthermore, with Open Ran, non-specialized hardware is used on which to install software modules (also made by different suppliers) that implement the various network functions.
NOT ONLY ERICSSON AND NOKIA, OPENING THE MARKET TO SMALLER SUPPLIERS
This technology then allows operators to purchase specialized kits and services in smaller contracts with different actors to put together a 5G network.
A concept that would break the market power of large end-to-end suppliers such as Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia.
THE PROTOCOL OF UNDERSTANDING OF DEUTSCHE TELEKOM, TELEFONICA, VODAFONE AND ORANGE
With the signing of the MoU, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica, Vodafone and Orange have committed to working together on the Open Ran standards. In addition to investing in technology development and pushing governments and regulators to contribute to research funding and "political support".
TIM ALSO JOINS THE MOU
As we said, last week the Italian Tim also joined the memorandum of understanding with the four European operators for the Open Ran.
As stated in the note , the group thus strengthens its commitment to the development of innovative solutions for the mobile ultrabroadband network which, by exploiting open virtualized architectures, enables an increasingly agile, flexible, secure and functional communication for the diffusion of 5G digital services.
The initiative will give a strong impulse to the introduction of new functions of the mobile broadband network, in particular the 5G network, thus favoring an ever-increasing widespread diffusion and improving its management.
TIM'S COMMITMENT TO CREATING AN O-RAN ECOSYSTEM
"Tim's commitment to creating an ecosystem on O-Ran, in addition to strengthening the Italian companies already engaged in the development of solutions for new generation mobile networks, represents a concrete opportunity to guarantee our country a leading role plan as a provider of technologies for digital transformation on a European scale. By joining the MoU with other Operators, Tim reaffirms its commitment to contribute to the development of O-Ran technology in Europe ”, said Michele Gamberini, Tim's Chief Technology and Information Officer.
On the other hand, Tim had already joined two international consortia, the O-RAN Alliance and the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), respectively since 2018 and 2017.
WHAT THE O-RAN ALLIANCE DOES
As early as 2018, operators around the world began working on new standards in an association called the O-RAN Alliance . It is a standards-setting body that includes participants from over 200 technology companies, including Microsoft, Facebook, chip makers, software companies and leading European vendors Ericsson and Nokia.
The O-Ran Alliance includes Chinese operators but not its tech giant Huawei.
Today O-Ran Alliance pursues the objective of evolving radio access according to the paradigms of the disaggregation of radio functions, virtualization and hardware / software decoupling with the use of generic hardware (so-called whitebox), automation and standardization of open interfaces to enable a true interoperability.
TO INCREASE COMPETITION
The development of Open Ran solutions will increase the available options allowing operators to further strengthen security standards, improve network performance and optimize costs.
Operators, who cannot rely on Huawei in several European markets, see Open Ran as a correction to what they see as a duopoly in the supplier market that allows Ericsson and Nokia to charge higher prices for 5G equipment.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ERICSSON AND NOKIA
The development of an Open Ran technology therefore entails risks for industry leaders, Ericsson and Nokia. The latter have more and more freedom in the markets that have blocked or are avoiding Chinese suppliers like Huawei.
"If you break that duopoly and have many new suppliers, what will become of the two European incumbents?" Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer at the GSMA association of global telecommunications operators, pointed out to Politico .
As Politico recalled, experts have warned that Open Ran technology is still immature. So it could take years for these new types of networks to work alongside conventional 5G systems.
But the idea gained influence in countries like the US and the UK, where lawmakers have been looking for ways to replace Huawei.
THE GERMAN INVESTMENT
In Europe, Germany is showing support for this approach. As Handelsblatt reported, the German government is preparing a massive investment plan to stimulate the development of local telecom companies, in an attempt to move away from dominant suppliers like China's Huawei.
The draft German proposal includes over 300 million euros of investment in Open Ran technology, 237 million euros for a 6G research hub and 250 million euros to increase demand and expand 5G networks.
The government wants to prioritize "open Ran" technologies throughout its telecommunications investment plan.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/open-ran-perche-tim-si-unisce-a-deutsche-telekom-orange-e-vodafone/ on Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:29:56 +0000.