As the demand for private 5G networks continues to grow in India, it becomes essential to choose the right Radio Access Network (RAN) OEM vendor that can meet their business-specific needs. In this article, we will conduct a comparative study of the top 5 RAN OEM vendors.
Importance of RAN OEM Vendors for Private 5G:
Private 5G networks have gained significant attention in India due to their ability to provide secure, high-speed wireless connectivity for various industries. RAN OEM vendors play a crucial role in the successful deployment of private 5G networks by providing the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and support. These vendors bring expertise in network design, optimization, and maintenance, ensuring seamless and reliable connectivity for businesses.
Choosing the right RAN OEM vendor is vital as it directly impacts the performance, coverage, and scalability of the private 5G network. A reliable vendor can help businesses achieve their connectivity goals, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new opportunities for innovation.
Below is a comparative study of the top 5 RAN (Radio Access Network) OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) vendors for private 5G:
1. Ericsson
– HQ: Stockholm, Sweden
– Date Founded: 1876
– Product Focus: Offers a wide range of RAN solutions including equipment, core networks, and management systems.
– Key Features: Known for continuous innovation and R&D in 5G technologies. Provides end-to-end deployment solutions for both NSA and SA 5G networks.
– Partnerships: Engaged in collaborations with major telecom operators globally and contributes to industry alliances such as O-RAN Alliance and 3GPP.
– Technological Innovation: Invests significantly in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in its solutions to improve network design, optimization, and RAN algorithms.
– Product Portfolio: Offers basebands, radio processors, and a radio access processing platform, Ericsson Radio System (ERS), supporting licensed LTE bands and CBRS.
– Market Presence: Globally recognized with a strong presence in India, actively involved in large-scale 5G RAN deployments for major telecom operators.
2. Nokia
– HQ: Espoo, Finland
– Date Founded: 1865
– Product Focus: Provides end-to-end network deployment solutions, including AirScale Radio Access portfolio supporting all radio access technologies.
– Key Features: Actively contributes to industry partnerships like O-RAN Alliance and supports emerging network technologies through collaborations with industry organizations.
– Partnerships: Collaborates with AT&T to co-create the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) based on O-RAN architecture and publishes in open source.
– Technological Innovation: Partners with Intel for trials of fully virtualized RAN environments, leveraging AI and machine learning for network optimization.
– Product Portfolio: Offers AirSpan Cloud RAN for flexible scalability and real-time cloud-based processing capabilities.
– Market Presence: Strong presence in India, actively involved in collaborations and trials for the development of 5G networks
3. Samsung
– HQ: Seoul, South Korea
– Date Founded:1938
– Product Focus: Offers a carrier-grade, fully virtualized 5G RAN solution, focusing on developing a vendor-agnostic ecosystem.
– Key Features: Emphasizes collaboration and innovation in the Open RAN community, leading several large-scale partnerships and deals with major telecom operators.
– Partnerships: Recently collaborated with AT&T to demonstrate an open-interface approach to delivering 5G deployments, leveraging enhanced Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI).
– Technological Innovation: Actively engaged in trials and commercialization of Open RAN solutions, investing in AI-driven network optimization.
– Product Portfolio: Offers comprehensive RAN solutions for diverse deployment scenarios, including rural network deployment, indoor connectivity, and IoT applications.
– Market Presence: Active participant in India’s telecom market, with engagements in various deployments and trials.
4. Parallel Wireless
– HQ: New Hampshire, United States
– Date Founded: 2012
– Product Focus: Specializes in OpenRAN solutions, providing end-to-end virtualized network deployment services.
– Key Features: Offers “All G” open RAN solution, facilitating the convergence of legacy networks into a unified software platform.
– Partnerships: Collaborates with major mobile operators globally, including Etisalat, Vodafone, and Telefonica, for Open RAN deployments.
– Technological Innovation: Focuses on network intelligence, network orchestration, analytics, and optimization for faster deployments.
– Product Portfolio: Provides software-defined hardware and network software for centralized monitoring and control.
– Market Presence: Actively engaged in India’s Open RAN initiatives and partnerships for extending coverage and connecting the unconnected.
5. Altiostar
– HQ: Boston, United States
–Date Founded:2011
– Product Focus: Offers open virtualized RAN software solutions supporting open interfaces and disaggregated hardware.
– Key Features: Facilitates faster deployment of new 5G services with greater modularity, agility, and scalability.
– Partnerships: Selected by DISH to deliver cloud-native O-RAN compliant nationwide 5G network in the United States.
– Technological Innovation: Incorporates AI and machine learning for end-to-end automation and zero-touch commissioning, enhancing network scalability.
– Product Portfolio: Supports indoor and outdoor massive MIMO, macro, and small cells, enabling interference management and dual connectivity.
– Market Presence: Deployed globally with significant success, particularly in Japan, where it supported the world’s first cloud-native mobile network with Rakuten.
This comparative study highlights various factors such as experience, technological innovation, product portfolio, customer support, and market presence of the top 5 RAN OEM vendors for private 5G in India. Each vendor brings its strengths and specialties to the table, catering to the diverse needs of enterprises deploying private 5G networks in the Indian market.
