Page 98 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Open RAN Tipped to Take Off in Next 2 Years

Research by US manufacturing services with 65 per cent citing it as a superior challenges for 5G include the creation
company Jabil pointed to growing traction technology which will “dramatically of subscription models (31 per cent);
around open RAN, with a majority of transform telecommunications”, an government regulations (27 per cent); and
businesses involved in the implementation increase of 16 per cent compared with erosion of market share by OTT providers
or adoption of 5G expecting the approach the first survey in 2018. Most respondents (25 per cent). Open RAN has its fair share
to be a serious contender within the next (64 per cent) agreed it would take one- of critics. In March, Strand Consult founder
two years. A survey of 193 companies to-three years before 5G technology was John Strand predicted the approach would
conducted for Jabil by SIS International widely adopted, with 32 per cent citing lack account for less than 1 per cent of 5G
Research found 57 per cent expect open of spectrum as the biggest challenge for mobile sites in 2025 and not more than 3
RAN to be ready for widespread deployment deployments. Additional business model per cent by 2030.
in the timeframe, with 22 per cent already
establishing a roadmap. The research
also showed 55 per cent of respondents
were “seriously considering an open
RAN strategy”. Jabil stated participants
believe open RAN “will reduce capital and
operational expenditures”. Some 44 per
cent of respondents believe cloud service
providers including Google Cloud, AWS and
Microsoft Azure have a role in open RAN
strategies, while 67 per cent which have an
existing strategy for the approach stated
these companies fit into their plans. The
companies were bullish on 5G’s prospects,

Bell Ready to Deploy ‘5G+’ with 3.5GHz Spectrum

Bell Canada announced this week that it is with compatible devices will ‘soon’ have
‘poised’ to begin deploying the 3500MHz access to 5G+ capabilities, starting with
band spectrum it won last summer to Toronto, and it will work towards offering
expand and upgrade 5G services in urban 5G+ coverage to approximately 40% of
and rural markets across the country. the Canadian population by the end of
Bell says that the addition of 3500MHz 2022. Bell’s existing 5G network currently
frequencies to its 5G network will give covers over 75% of the population. Bell’s
customers a faster experience with peak rival Rogers Communications claimed
theoretical download speeds of ‘up to a Canadian first with the start of live
3Gbps in select areas’ under the ‘5G+’ 3500MHz 5G deployments this week.
banner. Bell added that 5G customers

Orange Poland Has Over 1m Active 5G Devices

Orange Poland says it now has more than during April this year were 5G-capable, with million subscriptions and around 29% of
one million 5G devices on its network. The over 100 devices in its 5G line-up. Orange is the overall market in subscription terms.
firm added that 47% of all handsets sold Poland’s largest mobile provider, with 14.4

98 MAY-JUNE 2022