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Ericsson Cloud RAN

Ericsson takes leadership in industrializing Open RAN

Cloud RAN - a cornerstone of open architectures

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Ericsson Cloud RAN is a powerful, versatile, future-proofed cloud-native solution that virtualizes radio access network functions, enabling more flexible, scalable, and efficient network deployments.

What is Cloud RAN?

Ericsson Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) is a cloud-native software solution handling compute functionality in the RAN. Cloud RAN is a viable option for communications service providers (CSP) that offers increased flexibility, faster delivery of services, and greater scalability in networks. 

Cloud RAN is one of the key pillars of Open RAN and plays an important role in allowing CSPs to seamlessly evolve towards cloud-native technologies and open network architectures, with the vision that our customers can deploy cloud-native networks on any site, any cloud, and any server platform.

What is Cloud RAN?

Cloud RAN is the separation of the RAN baseband software and the RAN baseband hardware. This baseband software can run on any capable commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, with or without integrated accelerators, utilizing cloud-native tools and processes to manage the software and hardware.

This means that baseband RAN software can, in principle, be deployed in many different ways – on cloud hardware on-site, in a CSP-owned data center, or even on a hyperscaler public cloud.

Explore Cloud RAN benefits and how it will co-exist with purpose-built RAN, in this “What’s next for RAN” paper.

Why Cloud RAN is important

Ericsson Cloud RAN is important for customers, specifically Connectivity Service Providers (CSPs), for several key reasons:

  • Enhancing network scalability and flexibility
    Cloud RAN allows CSPs to dynamically manage network resources, scaling up or down based on demand. This flexibility is crucial for handling varying traffic loads and deploying new services quickly.
  • Enabling cost-effective network deployment and management
    Ericsson Cloud RAN can provide cost efficiencies by leveraging virtualization, reducing capital and operational expenditures, enabling dynamic resource scaling, improving energy efficiency, simplifying network management, and enhancing lifecycle management.
  • Open Interfaces
    As an inherent part of Ericsson Cloud RAN, open interfaces allow for interoperability with other vendors' equipment and fostering a competitive ecosystem. By embracing open interfaces, Ericsson promotes collaboration and innovation within the industry.
  • Faster Time to Market
    Ericsson Cloud RAN enables rapid deployment of new features and services, helping CSPs stay competitive in a fast-paced market.
  • Innovative Services
    Faster deployment of new services means end-users have access to the latest technological advancements and applications.

Cloud RAN Deployment and Integration

Integration of Cloud RAN with existing network infrastructure

Ericsson Cloud RAN integrates seamlessly with existing network infrastructure through flexible deployment models, multi-vendor interoperability, virtualized RAN functions, advanced management and orchestration tools, and support for both legacy and 5G networks. This integration enhances network performance, reduces costs, and enables CSPs to deliver superior services to their customers.

 

How to best deploy Cloud RAN in various network environments

Deploying Ericsson Cloud RAN in various network environments requires careful planning, robust infrastructure, seamless integration, and ongoing optimization. With guidance from Ericsson, CSPs can achieve a smooth transition to Cloud RAN, enhancing network performance, scalability, and service delivery while also possible reducing operational costs. This strategic approach positions CSPs to meet the growing demands of modern telecommunications and deliver superior experiences to their customers.

Challenges and considerations for successful Cloud RAN implementation

Implementing Ericsson Cloud RAN involves navigating a landscape of technical, operational, and strategic considerations mainly around Cloud RAN adoption, deployment, and interoperability. By addressing these considerations with careful planning, robust infrastructure, advanced training, and strong ecosystem partnerships, CSPs can successfully deploy Ericsson Cloud RAN, enhancing their network capabilities and delivering superior services to their customers.

Leading the charge in Cloud RAN ecosystem innovation

Collaborating with partners in the Cloud RAN ecosystem is crucial to develop innovative, high-performance solutions that meet and exceed customer expectations.

Ericsson Open Lab

Ericsson Open Lab provides both virtual and physical lab space environments to share technologies and facilitate innovation. In the lab environment, Ericsson and its partners together with customers can test new deployment and use case scenarios, increase automation, and reduce manual intervention using Ericsson’s Cloud RAN products as a base.

Ericsson-Intel Tech Hub

Based in Ericsson’s D-15 facility in Santa Clara, the Ericsson-Intel Tech Hub focuses on the benefits that the combination of Ericsson Cloud RAN and Intel technologies can bring to improving energy efficiency and network performance, reducing time to market, and monetizing new business opportunities such as enterprise applications.

Ecosystem partners

Ecosystem partners

Cloud RAN insights

Why Ericsson Cloud RAN?

Unrivaled RAN expertise

Credible and trusted partner in designing efficient, reliable and high-performing RAN brought to the Cloud.

 

Ecosystem frontrunner

Partner co-creation to enable high-capacity deployments with key RAN needs: acceleration, synch, cell site config.                           

Highest performing Cloud RAN

The advanced radio technologies, and future-ready architecture of Ericsson Cloud RAN make it highly capable for modern telecom needs.

Cloud native by design

Highly scalable software for any cloud environment.

 

 

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