5G Factor: 5G Ecosystem Adjusting

In this episode of The 5G Factor, our series that focuses on all things across the 5G ecosystem, we review recent adjustments by key players throughout the 5G ecosystem including Verizon Business’ debut in the neutral host network segment, Dell and Ericsson commercially debuting Ericsson Cloud RAN software on Dell PowerEdge servers to spur telco cloud journeys, and how Red Hat’s open source approach is making inroads across telco hybrid cloud and Open RAN environments.

Our analytical review drilled down on:

Verizon’s First Neutral Host Deal with Cummins. Verizon created a 5G ecosystem stir in announcing its debut neutral host private 5G deal with Cummins Inc., a manufacturer of heavy-duty truck engines. Cummins is tapping Verizon as the technical lead and anchor tenant for a combo network to be deployed at its Jamestown engine plant in Lakewood, New York. Verizon will collaborate with Ericsson to implement the neutral host model using Verizon's C-band and mmWave spectrum bands, plus support for 3.5GHz CBRS connections. The move follows T-Mobile already tossing its hat into the neutral host arena with suppliers such as Celona certified on its 4G-based neutral host system within T-Mobile’s “Bring Your Own Coverage 2.0” (BYOC 2.0) program that has the property owner financing and hosting the neutral site. We delve into how the neutral host model can deliver benefits like ensuring all users, such as employees, get the same level of signal across all carriers, vital to making sure emergency calls inside or outside the facility are received as well as the prospects that other operators will warm to Verizon acting as the “neutral” anchor tenant at such sites.

Dell and Ericsson Target Stimulating Telco Cloud Journeys. At Dell Tech World 2024, Dell and Ericsson announced they have bolstered their partnership to push telco cloud transformation journeys forward. To help make this happen, the duo is commercially debuting Ericsson Cloud RAN software on Dell PowerEdge servers underpinned by continuous testing and lifecycle management plus joint services that offer telcos integrated network infrastructure support. They are working together to cultivate customized cloud network transformation journeys and provide guidance on network structures and operational frameworks that minimize the deployment risks across open, heterogeneous vendor environments. We assess the potential impact of the alliance on the 5G market including how Dell’s AI Factory solutions can ultimately play a key role in stimulating telco cloud journeys including the acceleration of Cloud RAN implementations. 

Red Hat Seeks to Reduce Complexity Through Open Source Principles. Red Hat is focused on using open source principles to help telcos improve their business outcomes by reducing complexity with open source underpinning Red Hat’s pre-integrated platform approach that includes orchestrating 5G automation, hybrid cloud, AI, and edge computing capabilities. Specifically, Red Hat offers a unified cloud-native application platform that spans the telco’s network from core to edge. To that end, Red Hat has integrated Ericsson Cloud RAN with Red Hat OpenShift to provide telcos more flexibility in choosing a cloud platform. The move comes after Red Hat announced in 2023 a partnership to deliver Nokia's core network applications together with Red Hat's cloud infrastructure platforms. We assess the practical outcomes of Red Hat’s portfolio development and marketing strategy as shown by its collaboration with telco organizations such as KDDI, Telenor, Turkcell, Perfectum, and an array of others to help accelerate cloud-native network deployments within multi-vendor environments including progress working with Nokia’s anyRAN framework as well as Mavenir’s Open RAN solutions in the Vodafone Idea network.