The two say they want to accelerate progress on 4G and 5G platforms for operators around the world.
The partnership will combine Airspan Networks’ expertise in deploying compact, intelligent radio solutions at scale with Altiostar Network’s virtualised RAN (vRAN) solutions.
The two have worked with Rakuten Mobile in Japan, touted as the world’s first cloud-native operator, which is due to launch commercial services next month.
The partners both have field experience, having successfully integrated thousands for Rakuten, which they did not name.
The statement said the two intend to work together to enable network operators all over the world to take advantage of fully virtualized cloud native network architectures through Altiostar’s Open vRAN solution with Airspan’s OpenRANGE platform.
Open RAN architectures are intended to change the economics of the RAN by reducing CapEx and OpEx costs up to 40%, according to a 2019 study conducted by Strategy Analytics.
Telefonica is an investor in Altiostar and were among the first members of the O-RAN Alliance.