RAN & Open RAN News
All the latest radio access network (RAN) and open RAN news involving BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone.
Interview
Rakuten Symphony turns up the volume in Europe
After setting up shop in France, Germany, and the UK, Symphony puts out welcome mat for software companies to join its Symworld marketplace.
Interview
Rakuten Symphony woos European startups
TelcoTitans interviews Geoff Hollingworth, Chief Marketing Officer at Rakuten Mobile’s next-gen cloud connectivity platform spinout. After setting up shop in France, Germany, and UK, Symphony puts out welcome mat for software companies to join its Symworld marketplace.
Network & Infrastructure
VM O2 switches on Samsung’s 4G, 5G RAN lights
After more than six months of putting Samsung RAN kit through its paces in field tests, VM O2 flicks the switch on “multiple” 4G, 5G sites.
Innovation (R&D)
Startup health “intimately linked” to telco relationships
Changes to competition, funding, and processes required to support startup ecosystem, TEG finds.
Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica scales back open RAN expectations
Spanish group looks to have reined back on flagship ‘50%’ target for open RAN rollout.
Strategy & Change
Telcos seek security in the cloud as 5G grows
Telefónica’s Patricia Diez Munoz acclaims 5G security credentials, but edge deployments and multi‑vendor environments bring new challenges. Neil McRae of BT positions security at the fore of cloud‑native transformation and calls on vendors to finally ditch legacy attitudes to security, and the days of “stupid passwords”.
Partnerships & Alliances
O2 tasks Nokia RIC to spot bad behaviour
Near-real-time RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) to detect unusual behaviour of eleven RAN nodes as part of “learning phase”. Airspan flagged as supplier in open RAN small‑cell deployment.
Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone UK backs DCMS innovation overhaul
UK Telecoms Innovation Network aims to build transparent, open hub for public and private R&D opportunities. Seeks to fix supply chain diversity issues in UK telecoms and export technology abroad. Interoperable network tech among priorities.
Network & Infrastructure
Euro giants put O‑RAN security and sustainability in spotlight
European open RAN MoU group drawing focus towards the potential for targeted and measurable energy efficiency gains through adoption of open disaggregation, supporting critical operator goals. Security review suggests an open architecture, drawing on IT security protocols and built on a zero trust methodology should prove more secure than ...
Innovation (R&D)
DCMS launches ‘open’ R&D network to overhaul UK innovation
UK Telecoms Innovation Network aims to build transparent, open hub for public and private R&D opportunities. Seeks to fix supply chain diversity issues in UK telecoms and export technology abroad. Interoperable network tech among the priorities.
Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone continues 5G drive with German standalone launch
Vodafone Germany first to launch SA network in country. Claims more than ten million customers can already access services from home. Partners with DAZN to test 5G mobile streaming of the German Bundesliga. Moves continue notable European 5G ramp-up for Vodafone in 2022.