IBM and Airspan Networks teamed to provide open RAN 5G testing to European operators. The companies plan to update a pair of current sites in Germany and France to cover multi-vendor integration.
The plans involve providing a 5G core network at IBM’s Global Industry Solution Center (GISC) in Nice. Two companies explained in a statement that the goal is to use open RAN to conduct long-distance trials of technologies which will enable private 5G, including edge computing and network slicing.
Airspan Networks will provide the indoor radio units, and open RAN Centralised Unit and Distributed Unit. It is also supplying 5G-connected customer premise equipment to operators seeking to test use cases. The 5G open RAN collaboration builds on previous technology testing initiatives in Europe by both companies.
IBM announced an Open RAN Centre of Excellence in Spain in 2020, and Airspan Networks opened a 5G Innovation Lab in the UK in May. The move expands on recent IBM operator deals in the US, including constructing a hybrid cloud-platform to underpin Verizon’s core 5G network and a deal with Dish Network.
Nokia and SURF, the organization for IT in Dutch education and research, have successfully reached a single carrier 800Gb/s optical transmission over SURF’s existing cross-border, multi-vendor research and education network infrastructure.
Nokia and Vodafone are collaborating to test the viability of L4S technology over passive optical networks (PON).
The GSMA believes that critical reform of European laws is necessary to position the region as a technology frontrunner by 2030.
