With major carriers now embracing Open RAN, the conversation on the potentially game-changing network construct and its ability to transform the telecommunications industry in the U.S. has shifted significantly over the last year.
First, in December, AT&T announced plans to spend $14 billion over the next five years to shift 70% of its network traffic onto open and interoperable platforms in collaboration with Ericsson. Next, with support from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), AT&T and Verizon joined forces in February to create a broad consortium of network operators and vendors to advance the goal of building — and testing — a stable and secure Open RAN platform.
After several years of discussion, it seems like industry momentum is finally on the side of Open RAN, which has the potential to revolutionize the telecommunications industry, offering the ability to reduce costs, improve the customer experience, accelerate the deployment of new features, and encourage flexibility and innovation. But with this potential is also a more complicated network to monitor, and it may be some time still before network operators roll these changes out.
The pros and cons of Open RAN implementation
It’s important to briefly explore the benefits of Open RAN implementation despite its complexities. It not only helps facilitate efficient deployments but also offers agility and customization. Further, it allows operators to provide better customer value and offer numerous benefits, including, but not limited to, lower prices, reliable service, and faster connectivity.
Open RAN additionally provides the benefit of a more flexible infrastructure, empowering operators to tap into different vendors rather than being “locked in” with one supplier. Theoretically, this will foster innovation that the industry is currently missing due to a lack of options. Though attractive, these benefits don’t negate the fact that Open RAN should not be treated as a sole solution but rather as a foundational component for the future of network transformation.
Despite the above-mentioned benefits, Open RAN cannot be viewed as a “magic bullet.” As it is still in the early stages of development, there is much work to be done on standardization for operators and vendors to utilize and deploy it seamlessly. From a security perspective, Open RAN networks must be secure to protect customer data, particularly as the attack surface expands due to a multi-vendor, multi-cloud approach that Open-RAN encourages. While this is possible, it must be a priority as it is widely adopted, as broader distribution may make ensuring security more difficult. Furthermore, as it is more widely adopted, operators and vendors must be trained on effectively and appropriately using the technology – a process easier said than done. And finally, the question of vendor buy-in is ongoing, though more seem to be jumping on the Open RAN train daily.
The pursuit of Open RAN
Dell’Oro recently reported that Open RAN is projected to comprise 20-30% of the global RAN market by 2028. The wheels are already in motion for this massive shift in the telecommunications industry, so operators and vendors are bracing for impact. It’s imperative that the groundwork is laid before broad Open RAN implementation to minimize error and network disruption.
Part of this groundwork is ensuring that end-to-end visibility is present to assure and secure the network. Given the number of connected components from different vendors contributing to the operation of the RAN, this is necessary to ensure successful interoperation and decrease room for error. Regardless of the vendor, this visibility is needed to pinpoint things that are going wrong within the network that must be corrected. In addition to visibility capabilities, frequent testing must take place to ensure smooth operations, minimize risk, and to optimize the network by making continuous improvements.
As the most influential telco companies continue to pave the way and navigate the complexities of Open RAN and how it will alter the current landscape, time will tell just how impactful it will be globally. However, if recent action is any indication, it has a promising future ahead.
