AURA

Partners

• Parallel Wireless UK Limited
• Kandou Bus Limited
• BT plc

Project Summary

Radio units, which are deployed at every mobile network site, are highly custom engineered and complex to manufacture equipment which limits options for production in a high cost location such  as the UK, and represent a significant proportion of the total power consumption in the RAN. 

Project AURA (Agile Universal Radio Architecture) brings together a consortium to design a tightly integrated O-RU solution with an emphasis on flexibility to target different frequency bands and  form factors, greater power efficiency, and with the goal to manufacture the product in the UK at  competitive cost. 

Key to the ability to achieve this is the use of innovative new silicon chips and components. These, and the associated software that will be developed, are at the core of the reduction in  manufacturing complexity and power consumption, which will translate to lower installation and  running costs for mobile network operators, improving their sustainability credentials. 

The innovation in Project AURA will help support mobile network operators adopt the Open RAN strategy, a movement being backed by the UK government and other governments across the globe. 

Mr Rudy Leser, Vice President Strategic Development, Parallel Wireless said:  

“As the project lead, Parallel Wireless is delighted to have been successful in the ONE Competition.  We have put together a world class team to address the not insignificant challenges of reducing the  complexity and cost of the RU, whilst increasing the ease of deployment in many different real-world  scenarios. Together with the goal of moving the power consumption dial significantly lower to  support mobile operators in their sustainability drive mean that Project AURA is truly  groundbreaking in our industry. 

We look forward to working with the project team and DSIT to support and move forward the UK’s disaggregation agenda.”  

Nicolas Scheidecker, Head of UK R&D, Parallel Wireless said: 

“Parallel Wireless has been at the forefront of Open RAN innovation for many years and we are  delighted to receive support from DSIT to design and bring to production a significantly  differentiated O-RU product through project AURA. Our vision is that this product will improve the  energy efficiency and sustainability of the RAN, and support the industrial strategy of the UK with  regards to the Telecoms Supply Chain.”