There’s a lot to like about Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN). It frees mobile operators and private network operators to choose hardware and software from multiple vendors rather than being locked into a single supplier’s ecosystem. That can reduce capex and opex while providing operational flexibility and competitive advantages.
But there’s also a lot to fear, starting with complexity. As Figure 1 illustrates, O-RAN and 5G are both new architectures, so operators have two learning curves to climb. The multi-vendor environment adds another layer of complexity because now operators are solely responsible for integrating, managing and troubleshooting everything. In the hypercompetitive mobile market, operators want to be confident that their 5G O-RAN network delivers performance and reliability that exceeds both 4G and their competitors’ 5G networks.
