Conclusion
The opportunity in Open RAN is immense, and the move to a multi-vendor environment and software defined systems is opening up the market to a range of new innovative players. In fact, according to a report from MarketsandMarkets, the size of the global Open RAN market is anticipated to increase from $1.1 bn in 2022 to $15.6 bn by 2027.
However, cloud-native, open networks require broad industry collaboration to become a reality, and live up to their incredible potential. The good news is that many operators, vendors and other stakeholders have recognized that need and are now collaborating in initiatives like the aforementioned i14y Lab. But more is needed. With the momentum being seen by 5G and a plethora of new advances in technology and commercial opportunities just over the horizon, now is the time to start planning for O-RAN.
Collaboration is the key to unlocking the immense potential of Open RAN and creating better networks for the future."