Airspan, which makes open radio access network (open RAN or O-RAN) equipment for mobile operators, will build a 5G innovation lab in its existing site in Slough, west of London.
Eric Stonestrom (pictured), president and CEO of Airspan, said: “Through critical collaboration and testing in these labs, which we believe will help accelerate the development of open RAN and 5G solutions and open architecture, we believe Airspan will continue to be at the forefront of innovation and industry disruption.”
The UK and the US have been prominent supporters of open RAN over the past year since restrictions on Chinese suppliers Huawei and ZTE limited the range of mobile equipment companies available.
Airspan said the Slough investment is part of its initiative “to invest in R&D and innovative and disruptive hardware and software”.
It will use the lab to focus on the development of open RAN software, 5G sub-6GHz and millimetre wave indoor and outdoor equipment, and private network use cases.
The company said it has “ongoing plans to expand its employee presence in the UK, as the company plans to significantly increase the number of its UK-based software engineers”.
Slough will not be unique. “Airspan expects to add and expand innovation labs in other countries as well,” said the company.
Matt Warman, the UK government’s minister for digital infrastructure, said: “Airspan’s new lab of telecoms innovators will develop cutting-edge 5G networks and help create jobs and a more secure and diverse UK telecoms supply chain.”
Airspan has not disclosed how many R&D people it will hire in Slough.
