CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #5G--Pegatron 5G has selected MaxLinear's Sierra single-chip Radio SoC for their next generation PR2850 5G Macro Open RAN Radio Unit (O-RU). ...

Core Viewpoint - Mavenir's CEO warns that without support from "brownfield" operators, Open RAN may face extinction, leading to a monopoly by Ericsson and Nokia outside of China [1][4] Group 1: Open RAN Development - Open RAN was officially launched in early 2018 with the establishment of the O-RAN Alliance, aimed at creating more open interfaces to foster competition among suppliers [3] - Since the formation of the O-RAN Alliance, there have been few new "greenfield" network projects, with the largest network owned by Echostar set to retire after selling spectrum licenses to AT&T and SpaceX [3][4] - Major existing "brownfield" operators show a lack of interest in Open RAN, preferring traditional suppliers like Huawei, Ericsson, and Nokia, whose RAN market share increased from 75.1% in 2023 to 77.4% [4] Group 2: Market Competition - Nokia's mobile networks president asserts that competition in the market is more intense than critics suggest, with companies like Samsung, Fujitsu, and NEC also participating [5] - Omdia reports that Samsung held a 4.8% share of the RAN market last year, ranking as the fifth-largest supplier, while NEC and Fujitsu had shares of 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively [5] Group 3: Technological Integration - Nokia claims to have integrated its baseband technology with multiple manufacturers' radio units, including Mavenir and a Korean RF unit manufacturer [6] - Nokia's MantaRay platform allows operators to manage RAN from different suppliers, addressing concerns about multi-vendor integration in Open RAN [8][9] Group 4: Future Outlook - Despite positive remarks from Nokia regarding Open RAN's progress, concerns remain among large telecom operators about the sub-industry's prospects, with projected annual spending on RAN products declining by 22% from 2022 to 2024 [12] - Smaller suppliers like Mavenir may struggle to compete against larger companies like Fujitsu and NEC, which have the backing of larger electronic firms [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - The announcement of EchoStar's decision to sell its spectrum assets to AT&T for $23 billion and shut down its mobile base stations marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape of the U.S. telecommunications market, highlighting the challenges faced by smaller players in a highly concentrated industry [1][12]. Group 1: EchoStar's Background and Initial Aspirations - EchoStar, founded in 1980, initially focused on satellite television and broadcasting services, with subsidiaries like Dish Network and Sling TV [5]. - The company aimed to become the "fourth operator" in the U.S. telecommunications market, supported by government policies promoting competition and 5G network diversification [5][8]. - EchoStar's efforts to leverage new technologies like Open RAN were initially seen as a potential breakthrough against the dominance of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile US [6][12]. Group 2: Financial and Operational Challenges - EchoStar's financial situation has deteriorated, with Q1 2025 revenues of $3.87 billion, a year-over-year decline of 3.61%, and a net loss of $203 million, an increase of 87.57% [8]. - The company faced significant debt, totaling $30 billion by the end of 2024, and an operating cash flow deficit exceeding $1.2 billion for the year [8][11]. - Technical issues with its Open RAN network, including inadequate coverage and poor signal stability, led to severe customer attrition and a workforce reduction of 33% [9][11]. Group 3: Market Competition and Strategic Decisions - The U.S. telecommunications market is characterized by high saturation, with mobile user penetration exceeding 130%, making it difficult for new entrants without substantial backing [11]. - EchoStar's lack of experience and scale in mobile communications hindered its ability to compete effectively against established giants [11][15]. - The decision to sell its spectrum and exit the mobile market is viewed as a strategic retreat, with the spectrum being a valuable asset for AT&T to enhance its competitive position [12][15]. Group 4: Industry Implications - The sale of EchoStar's spectrum is expected to reinforce the existing three-player structure in the U.S. telecommunications market, diminishing hopes for a "fourth operator" [12][15]. - The transaction, pending regulatory approval, underscores the challenges of balancing market competition with resource concentration in the telecommunications sector [15].

Core Insights - EchoStar Corporation has selected MDA Space Ltd. as the prime contractor for its new non-terrestrial network low Earth orbit direct-to-device satellite constellation, marking a significant step in the global space industry [1][4] - The initial contract is valued at approximately US$1.3 billion, with options that could increase the total value to about US$2.5 billion, indicating strong growth potential in satellite communications [2][8] - The constellation will comply with newly established NTN and 3GPP standards, enabling seamless connectivity for various services directly to standard 5G devices [3][4] Contract Details - The initial contract includes the design, manufacturing, and testing of over 100 software-defined MDA AURORA™ D2D satellites, with potential expansion to over 200 satellites [2][8] - Delivery of the satellites is planned for 2028, with commercial services expected to start in 2029, highlighting a long-term commitment to the project [8] Technical Features - The MDA AURORA™ D2D satellites will feature advanced technology such as a large user antenna, onboard processors compliant with 3GPP 5G NTN standards, and optical intersatellite links for robust connectivity [6][7] - The satellites will be manufactured at MDA Space's expanded facility in Montreal, which is undergoing a significant expansion of 185,000 square feet to accommodate increased production capacity [6][8] Market Positioning - EchoStar's selection of MDA Space as a contractor underscores MDA's leadership in the NTN market and its capability to meet the demands of satellite operators for direct-to-device and broadband connectivity [4][5] - The partnership aims to serve various sectors, including consumer, enterprise, public safety, and government, across the U.S. and Europe, leveraging EchoStar's existing terrestrial 5G network [4][5]

Core Insights - VIAVI Solutions Inc. has introduced colocation capabilities to its VALOR Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN, responding to the growing demand for comprehensive testing from Open RAN customers [1][4] - The colocation model offers customers more flexibility and capacity, allowing for longer access periods and comprehensive testing throughout the product lifecycle [2][3] Company Developments - The VALOR facility is based in Chandler, Arizona, and is funded by the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF) [1][4] - The colocation framework enhances the NTIA PWSCIF model, aiming to accelerate the development of open, secure wireless ecosystems by leveraging federal spending to attract private investment [4] Service Offerings - VALOR provides a highly automated Lab-as-a-Service suite for Open RAN interoperability, performance, and security, including a state-of-the-art RF chamber for Massive MIMO and beamforming over-the-air validation [4] - The lab utilizes VIAVI's NITRO Wireless Open RAN Test Suite and VAMOS unified framework, enabling vendors to test products without significant upfront investment, thus reducing risks and accelerating time to market [5]

Core Viewpoint - The collaboration between 3GPP and O-RAN Alliance marks a strategic alliance in the standardization of 6G technology, aiming to integrate and develop a global 6G ecosystem [1][2]. Group 1: Collaboration and Standardization - The joint workshop in April 2024 will focus on cooperation in 6G standardization, highlighting the increasing overlap in technology between 3GPP and O-RAN [1]. - 3GPP will lead the development of 6G specifications, while O-RAN will complement these specifications to support various application scenarios [2]. - The collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency of standard advancement and allow the industry to better grasp technological trends early on [1][2]. Group 2: Impact on the Telecommunications Industry - The partnership will reshape the global telecommunications equipment landscape, requiring suppliers to design products that meet both 3GPP standards and O-RAN open interfaces [3]. - This integration provides telecom operators and system integrators with more diverse procurement options and deployment flexibility, reducing reliance on single suppliers [3]. - Open RAN's core value propositions, such as avoiding vendor lock-in and enabling multi-vendor interoperability, continue to attract global operators [3]. Group 3: Taiwan's Position in the 6G Era - Taiwan's ICT industry has invested significantly in 3GPP standardization and Open RAN technology development since the advent of 5G, positioning itself for the 6G era [4]. - The industry is encouraged to shift strategic focus from traditional hardware manufacturing to software, system integration, and testing services [4]. - Participation in international standard organizations is crucial for Taiwan to influence the direction of standardization processes [4].

Core Insights - Metanoia Communications Inc.'s JURA Open Radio Unit (O-RU) has successfully completed end-to-end over-the-air (OTA) validation at VIAVI's VALOR lab, marking the first product validated in the lab's new RF-shielded anechoic chamber [1][2][3] Group 1: Validation and Testing - The VALOR lab, funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, officially opened on October 7, 2024, and has since added an RF chamber and two additional customer labs [2] - The JURA O-RU underwent performance validation to ensure seamless integration into Open RAN networks, with tests conducted over the air in the RF chamber, evaluating key performance metrics under realistic radio conditions [3][4] - The validation process included O-RAN end-to-end functional and performance tests based on defined test cases, ensuring compliance with O-RAN architectural and performance requirements [3][4] Group 2: Technological Advancements - Metanoia's JURA O-RU is a 4T4R 24dbm 5G FR1 radio unit that operates in the sub-6 GHz bands using TDD duplexing, leveraging an advanced Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform for high-performance Open RAN solutions [4] - The VALOR RF chamber is the industry's first Test-as-a-Service offering for Massive MIMO and beamforming OTA validation, creating a controlled environment free from outside interference [5] - VALOR provides independent interoperability, performance, and security testing, utilizing VIAVI's NITRO Wireless Open RAN Test Suite and offering over 500 test cases compliant with O-RAN and 3GPP specifications [6] Group 3: Industry Impact - The successful validation of Metanoia's O-RU is seen as a significant milestone for both VIAVI and the VALOR lab, contributing to increased telecom innovation through Open RAN-based systems [4] - Metanoia Communications is recognized as a leading System-on-Chip (SoC) innovator, transforming the 5G NR ecosystem with its advanced 5G SoC featuring a future-proof SDR architecture [9]