Major European operators sign Open RAN MoU

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement Open RAN across Europe. The move aims to promote the timely deployment of Open RAN technologies and ensure that a strong ecosystem of companies emerges in Europe.

Interest in Open RAN continues to grow, with the industry working towards networks that can be deployed and operated based on mixing and matching components from different suppliers. With this announcement, the four operators have significantly increased their individual commitments. Orange’s statement that it wants all its network upgrades to be Open RAN from 2025 is particularly notable and puts pressure on traditional equipment suppliers to adapt to new open standards. More importantly, the joint move by the four operators shows that individual commitments might not be enough to see the Open RAN ecosystem in Europe grow as rapidly as desired and that a more concerted effort that also involves a supportive public policy environment will be required.

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