VMware, Inc. announced an expanded collaboration with
Samsung resulting in the integration of Samsung's O-RAN compliant
virtualized RAN solutions and
VMware Telco Cloud Platform
as part of the DISH Wireless 5G network buildout. This milestone
advances the ongoing efforts between the two companies to enable
Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to gain the full benefits of Open
RAN networks.
VMware and Samsung announced
their global 5G collaboration in 2020, and have since co-developed a
validated architecture and cell site deployment model integrating the
Samsung virtualized Distributed Unit (vDU) running on top of the VMware
Telco Cloud Platform. This advanced topology is tested and fully
interoperable, and can help CSPs accelerate and streamline their RAN
deployments at scale while reducing network costs. The joint topology
provides the flexibility to support a diverse ecosystem of partners.
The two companies are now working together to make the evolution of 5G
Open RAN networks enabled by a cloud-native architecture simpler for
CSPs.
VMware is collaborating with Samsung on building the foremost network
architecture to support the DISH Wireless traffic on their cloud-native
Open RAN 5G network. Samsung has been supporting DISH since last year,
when it was selected for the deployment of 5G Open Radio Access Network solutions across the DISH 5G network.
"VMware, together with Samsung, has developed the next-generation RAN by
combining the power of software-defined, open interfaces, and scalable
virtualization all running in a cloud-native architecture. We've begun
to crack the RAN code-this is the first step to full network
programmability enabling the vision of networking on demand for dynamic
applications," said Lakshmi Mandyam, vice president of Product
Management and Partner Ecosystem, Service Provider and Edge, VMware.
Additionally, VMware has also collaborated with Samsung on 5G Core,
which is responsible for key functions within a mobile network-User
Plane Function (UPF), Network Slicing Selection Function (NSSF), Session
Management Function (SMF), Access and Mobility Function (AMF) and
Network Repository Function (NRF)-on the VMware Telco Cloud Platform.
"We are excited to share that our collaboration with VMware is now
delivering the power of 5G and Open RAN to CSPs with real network
traffic running in the Core and RAN," said Kicheol Lee, Vice President
and Head of System S/W R&D, Networks Business, Samsung Electronics.
"Together, we are making it easier for CSPs to embrace open, virtualized
cloud-native technologies that will help accelerate the advancement of
commercial 5G networks."
With this collaboration, the two companies are bringing their respective
strengths to help CSPs leverage a fully cloud-native infrastructure in a
faster, more cost-effective manner. Going forward, the companies plan
to continue to enhance their combined solutions to meet the requirements
and demands of telco clouds at any scale.