Ericsson announced a major advancement in telecoms that will greatly enhance mobile operators’ ability to manage subscribers’ connection experience in different environments.
CommScope's OneCell®1 radio solution, and Corning’s 5G Enterprise Radio Access Network (ERAN) have been integrated with the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP), facilitated by the O1 interface as defined by O-RAN Alliance, marking a significant step towards greater openness and interoperability in the telecom industry.
CommScope and Corning’s solutions empower operators to deliver a seamless experience to mobile subscribers in complex indoor and outdoor environments. Bringing the management of subscribers’ connections together in a single system along with other vendor solutions will mean a significant benefit to the operator. The integration news marks the gathering momentum of Ericsson and AT&T’s pivotal agreement to introduce Open RAN into AT&T’s network.
The O1 interface is instrumental in harmonizing and converging network management platforms. It defines the communication between the Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) platform and the underlying Radio Access Network (RAN) infrastructure, enabling efficient configuration, performance management, and fault management across multi-vendor networks. By utilizing standardized interfaces like O1, operators can achieve a unified network management approach, reducing complexity and operational costs while enhancing scalability and fostering innovation.
Making use of the connectivity offered through the O1 interface, the EIAP platform, Ericsson’s SMO solution, can facilitate seamless interoperability between network management functions and CommScope and Corning’s solutions for all EIAP customers. Their integration with Ericsson’s EIAP, and the platform’s powerful open network management functionality, means integrated management of all wireless connections is possible for a mobile operator. This alignment not only simplifies network operations for Communication Service Providers (CSPs) but also optimizes network management expenditures by reducing reliance on proprietary solutions and enabling more flexible vendor choices. AT&T will be the first operator to be able to take advantage of this new functionality in this multi-part collaboration.
Rob Soni, VP RAN Technology at AT&T
AT&T is dedicated to driving innovation in network application development. By supporting open standards and architectures, we empower both application developers and network function vendors, like those in RAN. This is a significant move towards unifying network management in a single, open framework. We believe this will spark even more innovation in the applications we use to manage our network.
Upendra Pingle, Senior Vice President, Intelligent Cellular Networks at CommScope
Collaborating with Ericsson to integrate our RAN solutions using the O1 interface is a significant advancement toward a more open and interoperable telecom environment. This integration offers operators worldwide greater flexibility and efficiency in network management.
Dr. Shirish Nagaraj, Chief Technology Officer, Wireless, Corning Optical Communications
Collaborating with AT&T and Ericsson, Corning's 5G ERAN achieves a significant milestone in fostering scalable solutions to solve in-building and campus coverage. Integration of the RAN and SMO via the O1 interface empowers operators with seamless and efficient network management for Corning’s ERAN products. This milestone showcases Corning's commitment to advancing openness, interoperability, and delivering enhanced in-building connectivity solutions.
Anders Vestergren, Head of Solution Area Network Management, Ericsson
Integrating these third-party solutions with the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform via the O1 interface exemplifies our dedication to open networks and collaborative innovation. The new capabilities being introduced here, using Open RAN standards, empowers mobile operators to manage their networks more efficiently and deliver enhanced services to their customers. This collaborative work underscores Ericsson's commitment to open interfaces and standards, accelerating innovation and reducing complexity across the telecom ecosystem.