South Africa Open Radio Access Networks (RAN)

Traditional RAN solutions generally require telecommunication operators to work with a single supplier across a mobile site. This approach can be a barrier to entry for smaller suppliers who do not have the capacity, and financial resources to manage entire solutions, that encompass radio, antenna, baseband units, CU/DU servers, and management software. 

South Africa is leading the continent in the pursuit of Open RAN. With an estimated mobile penetration of 95%, the advantage of ORAN is significant for mobile operators as it will reduce power consumption and emissions, promote vendor diversity, create opportunities for smaller suppliers, switch the focus on hardware replacement (costly) to software management and act as a catalyst for further innovation (with more suppliers being a part of the overall solution)

The telecommunications sector in South Africa is largely monopolized by a few mobile operators such as MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom. It is hoped that the move to introducing ORAN technology will open the sector up as these operators begin to expand 4G and 5G services more quickly and affordably. In March 2022, MTN announced it would look to carry out proof of concept trials in South Africa, Nigeria, and Liberia whilst Vodacom SA is looking at doing the same in South Africa, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These testings are designed to manage commercial traffic in urban, rural and ultra-rural areas. 

For more information contact Commercial Specialist Sanjay.Harrypashad@trade.gov.