Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Paragraph: 152
OpenRAN presents an opportunity to move away from the current consolidated vendor environment to one...
Conclusion
OpenRAN presents an opportunity to move away from the current consolidated vendor environment to one in which operators no longer have to consider which vendor to source from. It will also improve network security in a number of other ways. Whilst it may not provide an immediate solution as the standard is not yet mature, it does present a long-term solution to the current situation. The UK Government and mobile service operators should continue investment in OpenRAN technology and work to make the UK a global leader, not just in technological development, but also in production. The UK Government and mobile service operators should continue investment in OpenRAN technology and work to make the UK a global leader, not just in technological development, but also in production.
Paragraph Reference:
152
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees that OpenRAN is an important part of the future diversification of telecoms networks alongside other technologies that support open and interoperable networks. Our diversification strategy is based around three key strands; i) supporting incumbent suppliers, ii) attracting new suppliers and iii) accelerating the development of open-interface technologies, to grow the market and promote competition and choice. Solutions such as OpenRAN will be key to creating a diverse, open and sustainable supply chain, and present an opportunity for the UK to build its capability as a global leader in technological development and in production. Our investment into NEC’s NeurtORAN trial is a clear commitment to accelerating open interface solutions. Vodafone UK recently announced its commitment to deploying Open RAN technology across 2,600 of their sites between 2022 and 2027. That expertise will be leveraged as the Government develops measures to accelerate the development and deployment of Open RAN.