THE CASE FOR OPEN RAN

Mobile telephony networks are considered critical infrastructure as we rely on them for the bulk of our communications. Due to market consolidation, the number of large traditional mobile telephony network equipment vendors has unfortunately shrunk to a handful. Open RAN (O-RAN) is an initiative that advocates interoperable radio access network (RAN) equipment for mobile telephony networks. With O-RAN, mobile network operators (MNOs) can use RAN equipment from multiple vendors interchangeably, which will allow for greater flexibility and the entry of newer and smaller players. It has been speculated that the strong support that the US government has for O-RAN is purely because O-RAN would allow for less reliance on Chinese vendors. However, given that O-RAN has received support from multiple other countries, including China, there are clearly other cost-related and inherent network architecture advantages in driving this initiative.