NEC and Mavenir’s Open RAN with massive MIMO on Orange's 5G SA experimental network

Mavenir's cloud-native Open virtualised Radio Access Network (Open vRAN) software has been deployed on Orange's cloud infrastructure with NEC's 32T32R mMIMO active antenna unit (AAU), to deliver high capacity and enhanced coverage.

Interoperability between radios and virtualised Distributed Units (vDUs) over the O-RAN Alliance Open Fronthaul Interface is key to Open RAN's ability to simplify the deployment of multi-vendor networks and eliminate vendor lock-in. The technologies have been deployed at the Orange Gardens campus in Chatillon near Paris, and are part of the extension of project Pikeo – Orange's cloud-based and fully automated 5G SA experimental network, also called Pikeo at this site.

"Mavenir and NEC's successful Open RAN deployment of mMIMO on Orange's Innovation 5G SA experimental network is a major stepping stone on the road towards Open RAN deployments and illustrates Orange's commitment to support the development of multi-vendor Open RAN solutions with innovative partners. Our Open RAN Integration Centre, open to our partners worldwide, contributes to the development of a strong Open RAN ecosystem in Europe," said Arnaud Vamparys, SVP Radio Access Networks and Microwaves at Orange.

"Deploying 5G SA mMIMO is a significant milestone in developing Open RAN and transitioning from virtualised to cloudified networks. We are very proud of our continuing collaboration with Orange, NEC and other companies that are proving the potential of the multi-vendor, cloud-native, standards-based approach," said Hubert de Pesquidoux, Executive Chairman of Mavenir.

"The latest deployment of Open RAN mMIMO in Europe is another milestone for Open RAN and one that required close collaboration and tight integration between multiple vendors. This synergy is exactly what Open RAN needs to successfully deliver on its promise of a truly open multi-vendor ecosystem," said Naohisa Matsuda, General Manager of NEC's 5G Strategy and Business. "Forward-thinking mobile operators like Orange are showcasing the potential of Open RAN mMIMO. This is the right time for the mobile industry to follow the blueprint set by industry-leading operators to move to the new era of Open RAN-powered connectivity."