MTN partners with five companies to expand its 4G and 5G services
MTN partners with five companies to expand its 4G and 5G services
MTN Group, South Africa's telecoms behemoth, is partnering with five firms to launch Africa's first open radio access network (OpenRAN). The partnership is expected to help Verizon expand its 4G and 5G services, while also making them more affordable and faster.
The company disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday and obtained by Nairametrics. Voyage, India's Tech Mahindra (TEML.NS) and US-based firms Altiostar, Mavenir, and Parallel Wireless are the partners.
OpenRAN enables the disaggregation of a network's hardware and software components, allowing telcos to build networks with identical specifications and scale from a diverse base of vendors.
The benefits of OpenRAN
Among the numerous benefits of OpenRAN are its ability to diversify the vendor landscape, disrupt the cost flow, and eliminate reliance on proprietary suppliers.
Additionally, it promises cost savings and increased flexibility for operators by allowing them to use generic hardware and open interfaces.
It enables a so-called 'Lego architecture,' in which numerous vendors provide the components and software products that work together to form an end-to-end radio network.
By modernizing the network, it helps the telco reduce its energy consumption and emissions, which contributes to Project Zero.
Charles Molapisi, MTN Group's Chief Technology and Information Officer, stated,
“We intend to use OpenRAN to modernize our radio access networks. This aligns with one of our strategy's five critical enablers: to build industry-leading technology platforms that enable the rapid expansion of 4G and 5G population coverage across our markets.
“By utilizing cutting-edge technology, we can anticipate a decrease in our energy consumption and associated carbon emissions. This bolsters our efforts to decarbonize our network and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, dubbed Project Zero.”
He added that while the Group recognizes the value of open interfaces and the value that dominant players bring to the business, "telecommunications today is about network stability as much as it is about new services." Customers evaluate us based on our ability to deploy cutting-edge technology quickly, and we are committed to finding faster and more efficient ways to do so.”
What you should know
MTN first deployed open-source technology in 2019 to expand rural coverage, in keeping with the company's belief that everyone deserves the benefits of modern connected life.
It has deployed over 1100 commercial sites in over 11 countries and was a pioneer in open-source adoption, allowing for cost-effective deployment in remote areas.
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