MTN partners 5 firms to expand 4G & 5G services

MTN Group, South Africa’s telecom giant, is set to partner with five firms to start an open radio access network (OpenRAN) in Africa. The partnership is expected to expand its 4G and 5G services, making them cheaper and faster.

This was disclosed by the company in a statement issued. The partners are Voyage, India’s Tech Mahindra (TEML.NS) and U.S.-based firms Altiostar, Mavenir and Parallel Wireless.

OpenRAN allows for the disaggregation of hardware and software elements of a network, enabling telcos to build a network using components with the same specifications and scale from a diverse base of vendors.

• The many benefits of OpenRAN include diversifying the vendor landscape, disrupting the cost flow, and removing dependencies on proprietary suppliers.
• It also promises cost savings and flexibility as it allows operators to use generic hardware and open interfaces.
• It enables a so-called ‘Lego architecture’ where many different vendors supply the components and software products that together make the end-to-end radio network work.
• By modernising the network, it reduces telco’s power consumption and emissions in support of Project Zero.

Chief Technology and Information Officer, MTN Group, Charles Molapisi stated; “We plan to modernise our radio access networks using OpenRAN. This is in line with one of five vital enablers of our strategy: to build technology platforms that are second to none, thereby allowing for the rapid expansion of 4G and 5G population coverage across our markets.