Vendor lock-in issue will be resolved, and various countries and regions can develop flexible radio access networks,
which consequently help to create an abundant future society where no one will be left behind.
DOCOMO and global vendors are working together to provide 5G x Open RAN all over the world to enable anyone on the earth to be connected anytime, anywhere.
From DOCOMO to the world
Bring innovation to the world with 5G × Open RAN
Open RAN is a radio access network (RAN) that allows devices and systems from various vendors to interconnect via standardized, open-specification base stations.
Interconnection restricted to devices of only one vendor
Allows multiple vendor devices to interconnect
OREC (5G Open RAN Ecosystem) is a project launched in February 2021 by DOCOMO and 12 global vendors in order to promote the dissemination of open RANs.
In October 2021, a vendor newly participated, and now there are 13 vendors involved in the project (as of February 2022).
Fusing DOCOMO’s know-how and the strengths of major global vendors from each industry,
DOCOMO will offer vRAN that meets the various demands from overseas carriers.
By fusing the know-how of world-leading vendors of radio access network (RAN) devices, DOCOMO is developing mobile networks that offer unprecedented flexibility and scalability thanks to multivendor connection.
In March 2020, DOCOMO launched a nationwide 5G service via open RAN for the first time in the world.
The number of 5G base stations already exceeded 10,000 in 2021, and more than 10 million subscribers.
DOCOMO is planning to commercialize a multivendor virtual RAN (vRAN) conforming to O-RAN specifications* within the fiscal year beginning in April 2022. An environment that allows verification as to whether stable multivendor connections are available and can be shared externally as shared open labs.
It refers to the O-RAN ALLIANCE or their activities or the specifications developed there.
Examples: O-RAN specifications, O-RAN front-haul
DOCOMO’s shared open lab is remotely available from overseas. We package best-of-breed RAN to overseas carriers, and introduce and operate O-RAN in a responsible manner.
Verification environment was needed to be prepared by telecom carriers themselves, therefore it used to demand- - -
labor,
establishment
costs,
and time.
As DOCOMO’s lab is now accessible from all over the world, it demands - - -
Vendor lock-in issue will be resolved, and various countries and regions can develop flexible radio access networks,
which consequently help to create an abundant future society where no one will be left behind.
Wider opportunities for new vendors will make the base station market more dynamic (competitive), preventing equipment prices from hovering at high levels. Use of general-purpose servers will also lead to cost reduction.
Multivendor vRAN where vendors’ strengths are fused using DOCOMO’s know-how offers a stable network environment.
Feel free to contact us
NTT DOCOMO, Inc.
Global Technology Promotion Office, R&D Strategy Division,
DOCOMO promotes the activity of "5G Open RAN Ecosystem," which aims to provide open RAN around the world to flexibly meet the diverse needs. The white paper introduces the aims of the Open RAN ecosystem and expected benefits and use cases associated with Open RAN deployment. This paper also addresses the challenges of deploying Open RAN, especially vRAN, and their possible solutions and summarizes target performance indicators for Open RAN.