Nokia partners with Mavenir to prove Open RAN system performance

Press Release

• Interoperability testing has been successfully completed between Nokia Baseband (DU/CU) and Mavenir Radio Unit (O-RU) using the O-RAN Alliance 7-2x fronthaul interface
• Testing was completed at Nokia’s Open RAN Innovation Center in Dallas, Texas
• Nokia has now integrated four Radio (O-RU) suppliers highlighting the openness and industry-leading performance of Nokia's AirScale O-RAN DU/CU
• This step reaffirms Nokia’s tangible commitment to Open RAN through its anyRAN approach, which offers mobile operators more choices in building 5G networks  

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that they have successfully completed interoperability testing with a Mavenir radio using the O-RAN Alliance 7-2x interface at Nokia’s Open RAN Innovation Center in Dallas, Texas. 

During the trial, both companies validated the interoperability of Mavenir’s CBRS Radio Unit and Nokia AirScale Baseband supporting the O-RAN compliant 7-2x interface. The testing was performed according to O-RAN Alliance specifications, demonstrating end-to-end configurations with 5G user devices. Nokia and Mavenir are able to demonstrate 5G peak performance by activating 4CC Carrier Aggregation using TDD and FDD spectrum in a 5G Standalone configuration. 

Nokia's anyRAN approach is designed to give mobile operators and enterprises more flexibility in building networks that combine purpose-built, hybrid, and Cloud RAN architectures with common software. Nokia is supporting Open Fronthaul features on top of its high-performance RAN software which ensures mobile operators have performance parity with their existing RAN. 

Nokia and Mavenir are long-term supporters of open networks and have invested heavily to advance the goals of the O-RAN Alliance to build open, interoperable, and intelligent networks. This industry milestone highlights both parties' ongoing commitment to open interfaces as well as their investment in R&D in the U.S. market. 

John Baker, SVP, Business Development at Mavenir, commented: “This solution demonstrates a full circle of O-RAN interoperability whereby our industry-leading RAN portfolio integrates and interoperates in both directions with products from other RAN suppliers. This is real Open RAN – not the version where one supplier only connects their own products to each other. It is a great credit to both teams that they could integrate our Radio with Nokia’s Baseband in record time.” 

Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, said: “Our technology collaboration with Mavenir is further evidence of our commitment to Open RAN. We have developed our baseband software in a way that ensures that multi-supplier O-RAN systems can be deployed without compromises in performance, energy efficiency, security, or resiliency. This is key when people depend on wireless connectivity in all aspects of their daily lives. We have now completed operability with Radios from four different suppliers using the O-RAN compliant 7-2x interface.” 

Resources

Webpage: Nokia AirScale Cloud RAN
Webpage: Nokia anyRAN
Webpage: Nokia AirScale Baseband Whitepaper: Cloud RAN: A Guide to Acceleration Options
Executive Summary: Nokia Cloud RAN and Open RAN Solution Roadmap
Blog: In-Line architecture: bringing efficiency and performance to Cloud RAN
Blog: The collaborative advantage: Nokia and partners delivering best-in-class Cloud RAN solutions
 

About Nokia 

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As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.