The new Heavy Reading Platforms for Future RAN Systems Operator Survey identifies an expected net positive impact on RAN system power from integrating AI processing. For new technologies to be adopted, they must provide tangible benefits like better performance, enhanced capabilities, cost savings or improved power efficiency. Ideally, new technologies should deliver some combination of […]

he new Heavy Reading Platforms for Future RAN Systems Operator Survey highlights the benefits operators expect from applying AI to the RAN. 5G networks are widely deployed, and many operators have already enhanced their 5G services by implementing 5G standalone (SA) and decoupling the 5G service from older 4G infrastructure. The next steps for these […]

After several years during which high speed coherent network deployments have been shifting from 100G/200G to 400G links using the C-band we are now seeing a significant move towards higher speeds and more use of multiband solutions. Multiple communications service providers (CSPs) in leading markets have successfully upgraded core network links using first-generation 800G coherent […]

As confidence in the readiness of the ecosystem develops, the number of service providers completing their first open RAN / virtualized RAN (vRAN) installations is growing quickly. vRAN allows service providers to disaggregate the software and hardware in their wireless infrastructure and benefit from the use of virtualized network functions and generic server hardware. By […]

The disaggregation of software and hardware via the deployment of a virtualized RAN (vRAN) can deliver significant benefits to both service providers and users. 5G has been designed to support vRAN, and the open RAN specifications are based on vRAN architectures. The use of vRAN and open interfaces enables a sustainable solution based on common […]

A key benefit of using general-purpose processors to implement open RAN/vRAN is that the same platforms can be used to support AI inference and other applications at the far edge of the network, such as cell site routers (CSRs) and content delivery and hosting. These edge platforms can be used to host virtualized applications closer […]

A staged upgrade to 800G made possible by developments for 400G enables service providers to quickly deliver higher bandwidths and network capacity in data centers. Many service providers successfully migrated data centers to 400G by taking advantage of double-density QSFP-DD optical modules that are backward-compatible with 100G QSFP and by using optical breakouts to support […]

Open RAN is expected to dramatically change the market for RAN systems by opening up competition to a wider ecosystem of vendors, including those that have only part of the solution. This opening up of the RAN is also bringing significant challenges for mobile operators that now need to work with not just one or […]

The combination of OTN and PON can bring optical network performance to the edge of the network and into the customer premises, delivering the highly reliable, low-latency services that are expected by enterprises and individuals. These two optical networking technologies work well together, with OTN providing guaranteed bandwidth and latency over optical transmission networks and […]