O-RAN deployments may not (yet) be making big headlines, but they are very real.
At the recent O-RAN ALLIANCE Summit, several operators openly shared where they stand in their RAN transformation journeys. There is no doubt that large-scale O-RAN deployments are happening as you read this.
And, as was aptly commented at the Summit, this is happening even though transforming critical network infrastructure is like changing an airplane’s wings mid-flight.
No mistakes are tolerated. Openness must not compromise network quality, security and overall customer experience. A careful approach naturally evolves as a step-by-step transformation process, following specific needs of each operator’s network. Being pragmatic, operators often start with a few vendors and expand gradually.
There is no one-size-fits-all O-RAN deployment strategy. Operators are following different paths with different priorities tailored to their own networks and strategies: cloudification, open fronthaul, and AI/automation. Their integration approaches vary between vendor-led and in-house development. They also differ in how they phase integration with legacy (non-O-RAN) infrastructure, and in how they evolve processes and workforce. All of this must align with each operator’s investment cycles.
From the perspective of RAN vendors, O-RAN specifications have matured significantly, and the vendor ecosystem has aligned – open, cloud-native design is now a baseline expectation. AI-driven Service Management and Orchestration (SMO), based on O-RAN RIC and rApps, may become the most impactful part of O-RAN, enabling innovation and new ecosystem players.
However, all of this takes time. Many say more than they expected. But operators are keen on benefiting from O-RAN-based network improvements as soon as possible. They are transforming their existing 5G networks and not waiting for 6G.
This is why operators are now calling for being more “laser focused” on deployment. They want simplification of the specifications, including:
The O-RAN ALLIANCE is expected to have a critical role in driving this convergence. Over its eight-year history, it has succeeded in transforming the RAN industry and enabling real deployments. Now, it is refining its focus to evolve faster, simplify further, and focus even more on execution and deployability.
For more on the state of O-RAN deployments, check the recordings from the O-RAN ALLIANCE Summit held at MWC26 (available to watch or listen to for free) – especially:
