In a groundbreaking collaboration, Canadian telecommunications giant Telus has joined forces with Samsung to pioneer the implementation of commercial virtualized and open radio access network (RAN) technology in Canada. The strategic partnership aims to deliver elevated network performance, increased flexibility, enhanced energy efficiency, and advanced automation capabilities.
Telus and Samsung’s Innovation Journey: Telus, a leading telecom operator in Canada, previously selected Samsung as its 5G network vendor in June 2020. This recent venture with Samsung focuses on deploying virtualized and open RAN technology, making Telus the first Canadian telecom company to embrace these cutting-edge advancements. Notably, the collaboration extends its scope from greenfield (new infrastructure) to brownfield (existing network infrastructure) deployments.
Benefits of Virtualized and Open RAN: Telus emphasizes that adopting an open RAN approach allows the integration of components from different manufacturers, optimizing network functionality. Simultaneously, a virtualized radio access network (vRAN) replaces traditional hardware with software, providing Telus with swift access to the latest technologies as they emerge. This, in turn, enhances customer experiences and facilitates ongoing network innovation.
Commercial Deployment Timeline: Having extensively tested both the vRAN and Open RAN rollout in select Canadian markets, Telus and Samsung are gearing up for a commercial deployment set to commence in the first half of 2024. The companies anticipate a large-scale network rollout by mid-2024, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Canada’s telecommunication infrastructure.
Samsung’s Solutions and Innovation: Samsung’s role in this transformative initiative includes its vRAN 3.0 for 4G and 5G, featuring enhanced capabilities for improved energy savings, optimized performance, and intelligent automation through Samsung’s Service Management and Orchestration (SMO). Leveraging Samsung’s AI-based SMO, Telus aims to accelerate vRAN rollouts at scale, enabling the automated deployment of thousands of network sites simultaneously.
Ecosystem Collaborations for Success: Telus’s approach toward multi-vendor Open RAN brownfield deployment involves strategic collaborations with key ecosystem partners. Wind River will provide cloud infrastructure, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) will deliver HPE ProLiant DL110 Gen11 servers featuring 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors with Intel vRAN Boost.
As Telus and Samsung embark on this pioneering journey, the telecom landscape in Canada is set to witness a paradigm shift, unlocking new possibilities in network connectivity and setting the stage for future technological advancements.
