Middle East network operators have recently opened the region’s first community lab for Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN).
The initiative, which was launched in partnership with Telecom Infra Project (TIP) and Intel, is aimed at accelerating the implementation of Open RAN solutions in the existing telecom networks of e& – formerly known as Etisalat Group, stc, Zain Group, Mobily, du from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), Batelco and Omantel.
The Open RAN lab also seeks to support the early adoption and development of a robust regional ICT ecosystem. It will also provide a platform for the parties to jointly deploy open and disaggregated technologies into their networks to optimise the online experiences of businesses and consumers. Flexible, interoperable and standards-based solutions such as OpenRAN present an opportunity for operators to become more efficient in meeting the ever-growing need for high bandwidth, low latency, and advanced connectivity.
The lab will provide shared facilities and access to Intel technologies for members and vendors, and catalyst for OpenRAN deployments.
Operators can also leverage TIP’s test and validation process to quickly and easily assess those products and solutions that will best contribute to the transformation of their networks.
Caroline Chan, VP, Network and Edge Group & TIP Board Member, Intel, said, “This is a great example of how industry collaboration can accelerate the shift toward a software-defined infrastructure at the network edge. A virtualised, Open RAN is an area of tremendous innovation, which can be further propelled by leveraging Intel’s FlexRAN reference architecture with optimised software and hardware components. The lab opens new possibilities to innovate 5G services that can accelerate the digital transformation in the Middle East.”
Vishal Mathur, Global Head of Engagement, Telecom Infra Project highlighted the shared responsibility of each telco operator in the successful deployment of Open RAN.
He highlighted that regional collaborations on Open RAN development, such as the Middle East MoU and the European MoU, clearly illustrate the growing momentum behind disaggregated technologies in our industry. “While specific use cases may differ depending on the region, the need for disaggregated technologies is universal. TIP and Intel play a key role in this context, bringing together stakeholders from across the world, such as the MoU signatories, to accelerate the development of a critical mass of open and disaggregated network solutions in response to operators’ needs. We hope to see more regional initiatives that leverage TIP and welcome all industry organisations to join our efforts to advance global connectivity,” he said.
