In March 2020, Docomo commercialized what it claimed to be the world’s first Open RAN-based 5G community
Japanese provider NTT Docomo stated that it’s at the moment utilizing Open RAN (O-RAN) with the principle intention of enhancing community flexibility and price effectivity, the telco instructed RCR Wi-fi Information.
“Docomo has been a pioneer in constructing networks utilizing O-RAN, having launched a multi-vendor appropriate communication community inside its 4G service as early as 2015. In March 2020, Docomo commercialized the world’s first Open RAN-based 5G community. By 2023, the telco had over 27 million Open RAN-based 5G subscribers,” the corporate stated.
Final 12 months, Docomo launched OREX RAN and OREX SMO and commenced business operation in its cellular community. “This has optimized community automation and the combination of multi-vendor gear, reaching outcomes similar to a most 30% discount in complete possession prices, a 50% discount in community design and operation workload and a most 50% discount in base station energy consumption,” the Asian provider stated.
“Now, via its three way partnership OREX SAI with NEC, Docomo promotes O-RAN adoption, stimulating the market and decreasing vendor dependence.Docomo continues to speed up O-RAN adoption globally via OREX SAI, providing extra machine selections and additional price discount,” it added.
Commenting on present O-RAN trials, the Japanese firm highlighted that it efficiently performed a 5G O-RAN trial in Indonesia in August in collaboration with native provider Telkomsel. “Throughout this trial, we achieved dependable interoperability between our RAN and Telkomsel’s 5G core, introducing use instances like distant work assist via sensible glasses, which deal with workforce challenges below the Sensible Metropolis idea,” stated NTT Docomo.
“Moreover in August, our collaboration with StarHub in Singapore resulted in a profitable lab trial showcasing the business readiness of OREX Open RAN. This trial validated multi-vendor interoperability by integrating options from Fujitsu, NVIDIA, and Dell Applied sciences, demonstrating excessive throughput and low latency outcomes, which confirmed the readiness of O-RAN for broader business deployment,” Docomo added.
Wanting forward, Docomo stated it’s getting ready for an upcoming O-RAN deployment trial in partnership with Center East provider Ooredoo, simulating the in-house operation of a business O-RAN. This initiative will assist the adoption of O-RAN know-how within the Center East, the telco stated.
“Our journey with O-RAN has yielded useful learnings. Deployment and trials demonstrated its flexibility and advantages. O-RAN permits us to pick the very best merchandise available on the market when it comes to each performance and cost-effectiveness. The journey has additionally reaffirmed the important significance of vendor interoperability and highlighted the technical abilities essential to combine elements like vRAN, together with servers, digital platforms, and community units,” stated Docomo.
NTT Docomo additionally famous that it’s at the moment spearheading world O-RAN standardization via the world’s largest Open RAN Ecosystem, “OREX,” and the three way partnership firm OREX SAI.
“As operators transition from vendor-locked RANs to O-RAN, new distributors enter the RAN structure house, stimulating product growth and worth competitors. This aggressive market permits operators to chop capital funding and procurement prices by introducing extra inexpensive gear, bettering gear high quality and diversifying procurement sources to mitigate provide chain and geopolitical dangers.”
