OREX SAI, KCCTech, and Palo Alto Networks Partner to Introduce Secure, Commercially Deployable Open RAN Solution in Singapore

OREX SAI, INC., a joint venture between NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL, Inc. and NEC Corporation providing end-to-end Open RAN solutions, and KCCTech, a specialist in field integration, deployment, and network operations, today announced a partnership with Palo Alto Networks, the global AI cybersecurity leader, to introduce a secure, commercially deployable Open RAN solution in Singapore.

The three companies will collaborate to address real-world mobile network operator requirements, focusing on scalable deployment readiness, operational reliability, and security in live commercial environments. The initiative aims to demonstrate how Open RAN is deployed and operated as part of day-to-day mobile network operations, moving beyond isolated trials toward repeatable, commercial-grade implementations.

Background and Objective

Open RAN has made significant progress through technical trials and early deployments. However, many mobile network operators continue to face challenges when integrating Open RAN into commercial networks, particularly in areas such as operational complexity, security assurance, and scalability within existing network infrastructures.

This initiative focuses on validating how these challenges are addressed under real-world deployment conditions and commercial operational requirements, with the objective of demonstrating repeatable, commercially deployable Open RAN operation.

Focus Areas / Scope of Validation

The collaboration centers on validating readiness for commercial adoption, with emphasis on:

• Brownfield deployment readiness: seamless integration into existing mobile network environments while maintaining service continuity and operational stability.
• IT-aligned, cloud-native operations: applying OREX SAI’s pre-integrated Open RAN "OREX Packages" and orchestration approach to simplify integration with operator IT practices, including automation and service management.
• Security-by-design for Open RAN: integrating cybersecurity architecture and operational safeguards in collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, applying zero-trust principles and advanced threat protection to meet carrier-grade security requirements.
• Repeatable commercial delivery execution: leveraging KCCTech field deployment, integration, and 24/7 NOC monitoring expertise to validate scalable rollout and lifecycle operations suitable for commercial networks.

Ecosystem-Based Approach / Differentiation (Roles & Differentiators)

This partnership reflects an ecosystem-based model for Open RAN commercialization.

• OREX SAI provides a pre-integrated and pre-validated Open RAN solution designed to deliver carrier grade performance while preserving openness and avoiding vendor lock-in.
• Palo Alto Networks contributes cybersecurity capabilities that will be embedded directly into the Open RAN architecture and operational workflows, applying zero-trust principles and advanced threat protection.
• KCCTech provides the essential deployment execution and 24/7 Network Operation Center (NOC) oversight required for live operations. As the local delivery partner, KCCTech manages complex field integration and applies structured operational workflows to ensure that the deployment meets strict commercial SLAs.

By combining these capabilities, the partners aim to address operator concerns around operational complexity, security, and scalability—critical factors for moving from trials to real deployments.

Market Positioning

Singapore serves as a reference market for this initiative, given to its advanced telecommunications environment and high expectations for network reliability, security, and operational excellence. The partnership is intended to generate practical deployment learnings and operational evidence that can be applied to future Open RAN projects in Singapore and other global markets.

Executive Comment

Sadayuki Abeta, CTO, OREX SAI, said:
"By working together with KCCTech and Palo Alto Networks, we aim to demonstrate how Open RAN can be deployed and operated with the reliability, security, and operational efficiency required in commercial mobile networks. This collaboration represents an important step toward making Open RAN a practical choice for operators."

Hakan Kavlak, Managing Partner, KCCTech, said:
"While Open RAN technology has already reached commercial-grade maturity through lab validation and early deployments; however, the remaining challenge for operators lies in integrating it into live, commercial brownfield networks. By combining OREX SAI’s architecture and Palo Alto Networks' security with KCCTech’s 24/7 Network Operation Center (NOC) and localized deployment expertise, we are providing operators in Singapore and beyond with a risk-free, to Open RAN adoption."

Michelle Saw, Vice President of GTM Shared Services, Palo Alto Networks, said:
"As Open-RAN architectures evolve, security can no longer be an afterthought - it must be foundational. We are proud to collaborate with OREX SAI and KCCTech to deliver a 'security-by-design' approach for Asia’s telecommunications ecosystem. By integrating advanced threat protection and Zero Trust principles into the very fabric of the RAN, we are ensuring that the next generation of mobile networks is not only flexible and automated, but also resilient against an increasingly sophisticated threat landscape, where AI is now being used to accelerate and scale cyberattacks."

Looking Forward

Through this initiative, the partners aim to establish a practical, secure, and repeatable model for Open RAN deployment and operations in commercial environments. By generating operational evidence and deployment learnings in Singapore as a reference market, the collaboration is intended to support broader adoption of Open RAN across diverse markets where operators require reliability, security, and scalable execution.