The priorities laid out initially focused on the main scenarios and technical requirements for multi-vendor RAN. The latest requirements build on those with the aim of promoting a fully automated and interoperable OpenRAN system.
The MoU signatories have released a security whitepaper that highlights the vision of each company with regards to OpenRAN, ensuring its security.
Energy efficiency is also a key theme, and that has also been addressed as it is expected OPenRAN networks will gradually become more energy efficient than traditional RAN.
The initial report was published in June 2021, and the latest report’s objective is to promote a “fast pace for the development of competitive OpenRAN solutions in Europe”.
The companies say that these requirements will evolve over time following the progress of OpenRAN standardisation and market development of OpenRAN solutions.
OpenRAN is expected to become widely deployed in European network operator’s infrastructure in the future.
Vodafone says it will be embedded into 30% of its European network by 2030 with around 30,000 sites having access to the technology.
Similarly, in the UK, BT’s chief architect Neil McRae revealed in a conversation at Mobile World Congress 2022 that OpenRAN will play a key part in the network’s future but insists it has some way to go until it is fully embedded as part of its infrastructure.
