"Achieving an O-RAN state is still a long way ahead"

Priyanka Kulkarni, Manager Telecom, Media and Technology Sector, Aranca, packs over 11 years of experience in strategy consulting and business advisory.

She has supported Fortune 500 corporations, PE and VC firms, family investment offices, and leading technology startups on diverse strategic and tactical initiatives.

Interacting with Pratima Harigunani, she dissects what makes Open RAN (O-RAN) a complex landscape even after all the hype and hopes around it. Excerpts:

How would you describe the Open RAN scenario?

The O-RAN Alliance developed an ecosystem that promotes interoperability between network software and hardware from different vendors. This eliminates reliance on proprietary components, opening the door for smaller players to contribute to the construction of cellular networks, a market traditionally controlled by a handful of major equipment companies.

Considering the existence of of single-vendor imperialism, is O-RAN really open?

The current O-RAN landscape is witnessing a rise in vendor acceptance beyond the traditional giants.

Companies like Mavenir, NEC, Parallel Wireless, Fujitsu, Altiostar, and Airspan are increasingly gaining traction worldwide. While this could be a potential signal for change in the previously traditional vendor-dominated market, single-vendor solutions are still expected to drive the lion's share of O-RAN revenues, as many operators still rely on traditional vendor solutions.

Single-vendor O-RAN solutions are likely to account for 15-20% of overall RAN revenues in 2028, whereas multi-vendor O-RAN solutions are forecast to represent just 5-10% of the total market. With the advancement in the 5G market, including considerations of 6G, and the current deployment state, achieving an O-RAN state is still a long way ahead.

Do technologies like virtualisation, cloud RAN, etc., help or hamper the cause of openness in RAN?