NTT DOCOMO, INC., a longtime promoter of the Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) concept, announced that the company is now cooperating with five global telecom operators: KT Corporation (KT) in South Korea, Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone) in Europe, Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) in the Philippines, DISH Wireless (DISH) in the United States and Singtel in Singapore on Open RAN initiatives.
KT and DOCOMO signed a memorandum of understanding in January 20221 to support Open RAN and are now verifying an Open RAN system. Smart successfully demonstrated Open RAN, a first in the Philippines. In addition, Vodafone and DOCOMO agreed in October 20222 to collaborate towards harmonizing mobile operator system integration and test processes. On February 3, the two firms published a white paper with a defined common test script.
Also, DISH plans to evaluate the product performance and stability of Open RAN at the Shared Open Lab, DOCOMO's Open RAN verification environment in Japan. Singtel and DOCOMO agreed to evaluate Open RAN technologies and explore an Open RAN introduction.
DOCOMO has also announced that it has adopted the "OREXTM" (Open RAN Ecosystem Experience) brand to strengthen the support scheme for international telecom operators in delivering the Open RAN system. DOCOMO has been working with global vendors since 2021 to conduct technological collaboration.
Global interest continues to grow regarding Open RAN, which uses open and standardized wireless base-station specifications to enable the devices and systems of multiple telecom vendors to be interconnected in mobile networks. Operators that so far have been constructing networks incorporating devices from just a single vendor are now facing technical and verification challenges in their efforts to implement Open RAN. DOCOMO, as the world's only company to have constructed networks implemented with multiple vendors since the 4G era, is leveraging its expertise to support the Open RAN efforts of operators worldwide.
Vodafone, DISH, Singtel and DOCOMO will give a panel discussion entitled "On the Forefront of Open RAN Implementation" at MWC Barcelona 2023, the world’s largest mobile-related exhibition being held in Barcelona, Spain from February 27 to March 2.
Going forward, DOCOMO will continue to strengthen its cooperation with global partners under the OREX brand to make Open RAN a reality.