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KDDI selects Samsung for Open RAN deployment in Japan
Photo by Timo Volz / Unsplash

KDDI selects Samsung for Open RAN deployment in Japan

Philip Lee profile image
by Philip Lee

Tokyo, Japan / Seoul, South Korea—KDDI Corp (9433.T) has chosen Samsung Electronics (005930. KS) as the primary vendor for its Open RAN deployment in Japan, the companies announced on Friday.

Open RAN, or Open Radio Access Network, is a concept that aims to make mobile networks more flexible and cost-effective by using standardized interfaces that allow for interoperability between different vendors' equipment.

Samsung will provide 4G and 5G O-RAN-compliant virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) solutions for KDDI's network expansion, which is set to begin in 2025.

The deployment is expected to cover a significant portion of KDDI's network. First, the technology will be rolled out to major urban areas, followed by a nationwide expansion over the next five years.

The collaboration aims to leverage a fully disaggregated and software-based architecture to enhance network capabilities, including improved energy efficiency, optimized performance, and intelligent automation. 

This deployment is expected to benefit KDDI's customers by providing faster, more reliable connections and enabling new services that require high-speed, low-latency networks.

Kazuyuki Yoshimura, KDDI's Chief Technology Officer, stated that the move represents the company's commitment to bringing innovative technologies to Japan. 

"This partnership with Samsung will improve our network performance and contribute to the overall advancement of Japan's telecommunications infrastructure," Yoshimura added.

Samsung's contribution includes its vRAN 3.0 solution, O-RAN compliant radios supporting low- and mid-bands, and features from its CognitiV Networks Operations Suite for automated lifecycle management.

The deployment will involve collaboration with industry partners, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, and Red Hat.

This multi-vendor approach is a key aspect of Open RAN, allowing for greater flexibility and potentially lower network deployment and maintenance costs.

KDDI and Samsung have been working together on vRAN and Open RAN since 2021, having already achieved milestones such as the world's first commercial 5G Standalone Open RAN site in the Greater Tokyo area.

According to the company's statement, global analyst firms have recognized Samsung as a leading Open RAN and vRAN vendor.

The expansion is expected to enable KDDI to continue delivering high-quality services to Japanese customers while building a more efficient, automated, and future-ready network, according to Rémy Pascal, Principal Analyst at Omdia

"This large-scale Open RAN deployment could serve as a model for other operators in Japan and globally, potentially accelerating the adoption of this technology across the industry," Pascal noted.

Philip Lee profile image
by Philip Lee

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