According to a recent announcement, Dell Technologies and Fujitsu are collaborating to make it easier for Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to accelerate adoption and simplify the deployment of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) solutions worldwide.
The companies will pave the way for CSPs to design open networks using the technologies of their choice by collaborating on Open RAN solutions and initiatives, including:
- Integrating Fujitsu Open RAN compliant carrier-class radio units (RUs) with the Dell Open RAN Accelerator Card to offer CSPs a powerful choice of critical technologies for more efficient Open RAN deployments.
- A common reference architecture that combines Fujitsu’s expertise in open networking and radio access network software with Dell’s expertise in open technologies. The solution will include multi-band RUs, Fujitsu virtualized RAN and lifecycle management software, and Dell virtualized RAN and Open RAN accelerator cards.
- Fujitsu’s 5G Open RAN Interoperability Lab in Richardson, Texas will connect to the Dell Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab in Round Rock, Texas, providing an enhanced ORAN testbed for CSPs, ecosystem partners and new ORAN technology participants.
Bob O’Donnell, President of TECHnalysis Research, says: “With the expected increase in edge computing applications coming with 5G, network operators need to consider new options like Open RAN to make their networks more scalable, flexible and cost-effective. One key way to achieve this is through more open ecosystems, which is why it’s important for industry leaders like Dell and Fujitsu to collaborate on new options that can match the performance of today’s traditional networks while reducing costs.”
Designed for Dell PowerEdge and other x86-based servers, the Dell Open RAN Accelerator Card is an inline Layer 1 processing card that brings the performance of today’s wireless access networks to the Open RAN ecosystem.
The card increases the performance of the server by processing all layer 1 calculations, allowing the server CPU to focus only on layer 2 calculations. By offloading the Layer 1 computations from the server CPU, overall CPU requirements, power consumption, and overall costs are reduced.
Deployed in networks around the world, Fujitsu’s RUs will support multiple bands in one compact unit to offer flexibility and choice, the company said. The radios’ highly efficient repeater technology helps operators reduce power consumption and supports green initiatives with greater energy efficiency.
Andrew Vaz, Vice President of Product Management, Dell Technologies Telecom Systems Business, says: “With Fujitsu’s ORAN technology, we offer communications service providers value with access to a wide choice of ecosystem partners and affordable technology for their open network deployments. We are expanding our partner ecosystem to drive faster innovation and a cheaper and more efficient path to open RAN so carriers can confidently deploy open 5G networks.”
Greg Manganello, Vice Head of Mobile Systems Business Unit at Fujitsu, says: “Our collaboration with Dell will expand the growing Open RAN ecosystem and give operators more options to choose the best components for their network, regardless of manufacturer. The innovation and network efficiencies inherent in Open RAN technology will also contribute to a more connected and sustainable world.”
