Paul Rhodes, Head of Strategic Consulting, Evolved Network Solutions
O-RAN was heavily pushed in 2020 as the ‘Virtual 3rd RAN Vendor’ to balance with Ericsson and Nokia as a collection of Macro RAN Vendors with double-digit market share. In fact, it has seen greater success in Greenfield: Private and Neutral Host Network deployment, with macro success limited – so far - to greenfield networks such as 1&1 Versatel and Rakuten Mobile, and allowing second radio vendors to deliver underlaid small cells in brownfield swaps.
For BESS to succeed as the Virtual 3rd Dispatchable RAN vendor – behind nuclear and fossil fuels – a more diverse set of deployments is needed with complementary business models. But most importantly, they need to counter FUD from legacy ‘vested interests’ with pre-emptive education, not reactive responses.