Samsung Networks has announced that it is collaborating with telecom operator Orange for the rapid development of the Open RAN (Radio Access Network) technology. The company is among the first network firms in the world to participate in Orange’s Open RAN Integration Center in Paris, France.
Orange and Samsung would work on separating the hardware and software elements of traditional RAN. This is where Samsung's experience with vRAN (Virtual Radio Access Network) comes in. The South Korean firm's vRAN has already been proven in the field by Tier 1 cellular operators in North America.
Orange, which offers cellular connectivity services in 22 countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe, wants to deploy Open RAN-compliant base stations in indoor environments and rural areas over the next few years. Open RAN offers higher network flexibility and reliability when compared to traditional RAN by replacing dedicated baseband hardware with software elements.
To further the development of the Open RAN system, Orange and Samsung will work together. Arnaud Vamparys, Senior Vice President of Radio Access Networks and Microwaves at Orange, said that Open RAN is a major evolution in the network segment, and it requires deeper collaboration within the industry.
Woojune Kim, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Sales & Marketing of Samsung Networks, said, “We are pleased to participate in Orange’s innovative laboratory. Through this collaboration, we look forward to taking networks to new heights in the European market, enabling operators to offer more immersive mobile services to their users.”
Samsung Networks offers end-to-end 5G network solutions, including 5G chipsets, 5G core, and 5G radios. The company has already helped various network operators across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America set up their 5G networks. Samsung's vRAN technology supports both low-band and mid-band spectrums.
