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Open RAN for a Secure Digital Transformation to 5G

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On January 26, 2022, the Open RAN Policy Coalition hosted a virtual discussion to address the security challenges commonly cited when discussing the shift of mobile networks to open architectures. While generic security risks exist regardless of the underlying network architecture, 5G and Open RAN will enable new capabilities that will allow operators to monitor, detect, prevent, and respond to threats quickly.

The discussion featured a keynote address by Andre Fuetsch, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, AT&T Services, Inc. and Chairman of the O-RAN Alliance board. In his remarks, Fuetsch noted that 5G’s wide range of services, applications, and spectrum means network operators face a much more complex array of choices and parameters. Building networks based on an open architecture with open interfaces to incorporate AI and machine learning technology can help navigate this complexity and enable … Read More

Open RAN Policy Coalition Congratulates Alan Davidson on his Confirmation as Head of NTIA

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Below is a statement from Open RAN Policy Coalition Executive Director Diane Rinaldo:

“Congratulations to Alan Davidson on his confirmation as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The NTIA has made tremendous efforts to spur 5G development and deployment; the Open RAN Policy Coalition and our membership look forward to working with Assistant Secretary Davidson and his team to foster open technologies and in support of Open RAN as a driving force for innovation, competition, vendor diversity and security for 5G and beyond.”

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Open RAN Policy Coalition Congratulates Jessica Rosenworcel on her Confirmation as Chairwoman of the FCC

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Below is a statement from Open RAN Policy Coalition Executive Director Diane Rinaldo:

“On behalf of the Open RAN Policy Coalition, I’d like to offer our congratulations to Jessica Rosenworcel on her confirmation as Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission. Chairwoman Rosenworcel has proven herself to be a thoughtful and proactive leader through many years of service at the FCC. As a Commissioner she was among the first to recognize the potential of Open RAN for 5G deployment, innovation and supply chain security; and during her time as Acting Chairwoman she started a substantial policymaking process in support of Open RAN while fostering an environment conducive to growth and investment.

Our Coalition looks forward to continuing to work with Chairwoman Rosenworcel to champion policies that underscore the importance of Open RAN in driving innovation, competition, vendor diversity and security for … Read More

Open RAN Policy Coalition Applauds Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the Czech Republic hosted the third annual Prague 5G Security Conference and released the “Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity.” The nine proposals recognize that a successful transition to 5G and beyond requires a diverse and competitive marketplace, and are intended as a guide for governments to promote supplier diversity and open and interoperable networks.

“The Open RAN Policy Coalition supports the Czech Republic’s Prague Proposals; open and interoperable telecoms networks support supplier diversity, supply chain resiliency and more secure networks. Continued government support for policies that lower barriers to entry, promote innovation, increase competition, improve network security and reduce costs are important to achieving a 5G ecosystem that is diverse, competitive and secure.”
-Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director, Open RAN Policy Coalition

“The Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity acknowledge the critical role … Read More

Open RAN Policy Coalition Congratulates Jessica Rosenworcel on her Nomination to Chairwoman of the FCC, and Gigi Sohn on her Nomination as Commissioner

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Below is a statement from Open RAN Policy Coalition Executive Director Diane Rinaldo:

“The Open RAN Policy Coalition congratulates Jessica Rosenworcel on her nomination as Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission. Chairwoman Rosenworcel has long recognized the importance of Open RAN for 5G deployment, innovation and supply chain resiliency, and has shown tremendous leadership at the FCC in starting a significant policymaking process in support of Open RAN.

We also offer our congratulations to Gigi Sohn on her nomination to the Federal Communications Commission, and our coalition looks forward to continuing to work together in support of policies that will promote innovation and competition, and creating a diverse and secure supply chain for 5G and beyond.”… Read More

Open RAN Policy Coalition Congratulates Alan Davidson on his Nomination to Lead the NTIA

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Below is a statement from Open RAN Policy Coalition Executive Director Diane Rinaldo:

“Congratulations to Alan Davidson on his nomination as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The Open RAN Policy Coalition and our members look forward to partnering with NTIA on efforts to spur 5G development and deployment, and to foster open technologies.”… Read More

How Open RAN Can Bring Security Advantages

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The security challenges created by shifting to a disaggregated or “open” environment are a common issue raised about Open RAN. In April 2021, the Open RAN Policy Coalition released a 4-page paper, “Open RAN Security in 5G,” which outlines why Open RAN is not less secure than traditional RAN and can in fact bring security advantages. 

The reasons for this are two-fold: First, new capabilities and advantages enabled by 5G will improve security for traditional and Open RAN architectures.  Enterprise-grade security deployed in 5G can bring key advantages to meet security challenges like malware, botnets, and other forms of attacks that are potential risks regardless of architecture.  All implementations of 5G will benefit from these enhancements. These include the ability to secure the technology and application stack by securing all layers (signaling, applications, management, and data), all interfaces, … Read More

Open RAN Policy Coalition to Coordinate Quad Governments’ Track 1.5 Dialogue on Open RAN

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Governments participating in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a strategic endeavor between the United States, India, Japan and Australia, jointly announced a 5G deployment and diversification effort that will include a track 1.5 dialogue on Open RAN development and adoption, coordinated by the Open RAN Policy Coalition. 

“The Open RAN Policy Coalition is pleased to continue our work with the Quad governments and industry partners to advance the deployment of open, interoperable and secure telecommunications networks. Fostering public-private cooperation, encouraging the advancement and deployment of Open-RAN, and demonstrating government support for policies that are transparent and market-oriented are all important steps in achieving our shared goal of a 5G ecosystem that is diverse, competitive and resilient.”
-Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director, Open RAN Policy Coalition

“In July, our Coalition partnered with other industry associations to host The Quad Open … Read More

5G World Interview: Open RAN today, Open RAN tomorrow, and how CSPs will get there

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The Open RAN Policy Coalition is excited to participate in this year’s 5G World hybrid event. On September 21, our Executive Director Diane Rinaldo will interview P. Balaji, Chief Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer for Vodafone Idea, about Open RAN opportunities and deployments in India.

In their interview, they’ll discuss actions needed for the advancement of disaggregated network architectures, the benefits of a more diverse 5G ecosystem, and the steps that governments and policymakers can take to break down barriers to deployment and ensure that Open RAN technologies continue to develop. Join the event to hear their talk about best practices for Open RAN in the region; more details are available here.

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Open RAN Policy Coalition Releases New Brief on Energy Efficiency

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Today, the Open RAN Policy Coalition released a new issue brief on Open RAN and Energy Efficiency.

In the paper, we note that opening interfaces in the RAN will increase flexibility, which enables rapid rollout of efficiency measures across the RAN supply chain. Understanding the impact on power usage in particular is critical for both cost savings and sustainability, as a major part of energy consumption in mobile networks stems from the RAN.

Compared with traditional RAN, Open RAN’s software-centric approach can accelerate the shift of compute resources to large data centers, leveraging advances in data center power optimization. By running as much software as possible in the cloud, Open RAN networks can take advantage of the economies of scale inherent to large data centers. Total computations performed in data centers have increased by 550% since 2010, while total power … Read More