08 January 2019

USA - Mavenir, which specialises in software-based and cloud native network solutions for service providers, is hoping to challenge the traditional radio vendors with the formation of a new alliance.

The company reckons its Open RAN partner ecosystem provides more options and makes it easy for operators to deploy an innovative, flexible cloud-based open RAN solution.

Partners include MTI, Tecore Networks, Baicells, NEC, AceAxis, KMW, Benetel, CommScope, Blue Danube Systems and Airrays. Mavenir will act as the end-to-end systems integrator. 

Interoperability testing has already been conducted based on the xRAN Option 7.2 split specification.

Recently, the full xRAN (now ORAN) specifications have been officially released containing the management plane making this a complete open specification.

According to Mavenir, this approach is now being favoured by operators who want to embrace Open RAN as it allows the deployment of whitebox RRUs to interwork with the virtualised cloud base band unit over Ethernet fronthaul. 

With this, the company says communication service providers can break the “stranglehold” of closed proprietary specifications and the need to implement dark fibre for RRU fronthaul, which could pose “significant” economical burdens in some countries.

They can continue to provide fronthaul and backhaul in the traditional ways like microwave and IP/MPLS technologies.