Diversification

Diversification of the telecoms supply chain is ultimately about choice, a desire to broaden the choice of equipment and solution providers in the sector-driven by commercial, technical and geopolitical factors

The Open RAN (Radio Access Networks) movement is a new approach to building mobile networks. Traditional RAN solutions are provided as a hardware and software integrated platform, generally requiring telecom operators to work with single suppliers across an entire mobile site. The demand side of the ecosystem does have a choice in this scenario, but only between proprietary systems.

The ambition for Open RAN is to create a multi-supplier RAN solution that allows for the separation-or disaggregation-of hardware and software with open interfaces and virtualisation. The promised benefits include greater solution control and flexibility, as well as further innovation stimulated by increased competition.

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However, the trend towards diversification however extends beyond RAN stacks. Consolidation of the market has reduced equipment vendor choice, while political concerns around vendors classified as ‘high risk’ has seen players removed from the supply side of the sector in multiple markets. This has exposed structural market weaknesses, including the dominance of closed single-vendor ecosystems, prohibitive entry barriers to new players and the increasing concentration of technical know-how to a handful of dominant players. There is a desire therefore to welcome new suppliers and increased choice across the whole ecosystem, from COTS architectures, virtualisation and cloud platforms, all the way down to components such as semiconductors.

Within the UK, the Government recognises the importance of telecoms networks and the need for these to be resilient to changes in equipment markets and supply chains. The 2019 Telecoms Supply Chain Review identified the need to manage and mitigate risks from high risk vendors, introduce a new robust security framework for telecoms, and create a more diverse and competitive supply base for telecoms networks. The Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) in its subsequent 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy set out plans to grow and diversify the telecoms supply market, ensuring it is resilient to future trends and threats. Read more about UK Government diversification policy and initiatives here.

A diverse supplier base that offers a choice of readily interoperable and interchangeable products is key to this vision, ensuring critical infrastructure does not become too heavily reliant on any single solution provider.

Diversification Areas

Government Policy

Government Policy

The UK government is committed to building secure and resilient communications infrastructure as well as enhancing competition and innovation within the telecoms supply chain.
Read more
Open Networks Ecosystem

Open Networks Ecosystem

Developing Radio Access Network (RAN) infrastructure for mobile networks has always been a challenge for smaller players, due to the amount of upfront investment required. Most solutions deployed today use proprietary hardware and interfaces, meaning it is not possible to develop a small subset of the RAN.
Read more
Open RAN Research & Development

Open RAN Research & Development

Given the potential opportunities for innovation in the Open RAN ecosystem, the UK is investing in a range of research, development and testing projects - both government and industry funded - to accelerate progress at every level in these key and interlinked areas.
Read more
Open RAN Products, Services & Deployments

Open RAN Products, Services & Deployments

Increasingly, Open RAN equipment has been making it through the phases of R&D, interoperability testing and into real deployments. The UK has traditionally been strong in small cell technology development, in-building solutions and alternative neutral host deployment models.
Read more
Interoperability & Testing

Interoperability & Testing

Interoperability testing (IOT) will be needed whenever more than one Network Equipment Vendor is supplying components (software modules or hardware equipment) based on standardised interfaces. This testing, between the vendors for shared interfaces, is generally based on test specifications supplied by the standards body but can also be based on an agreement between companies or consortia.
Read more
International Landscape

International Landscape

5G deployments are well underway in most developed markets. Arguably, Japan, Korea, China and the USA are all ahead of the UK and Europe in 5G rollout speeds and investment. This may be beneficial when it comes to adoption of Open RAN in the UK – as it could leave larger parts of the networks for Open RAN rollout.
Read more

Government Policy

Government Policy

The UK government is committed to building secure and resilient communications infrastructure as well as enhancing competition and innovation within the telecoms supply chain.
Read more
Open Networks Ecosystem

Open Networks Ecosystem

Developing Radio Access Network (RAN) infrastructure for mobile networks has always been a challenge for smaller players, due to the amount of upfront investment required. Most solutions deployed today use proprietary hardware and interfaces, meaning it is not possible to develop a small subset of the RAN.
Read more
Open RAN Research & Development

Open RAN Research & Development

Given the potential opportunities for innovation in the Open RAN ecosystem, the UK is investing in a range of research, development and testing projects - both government and industry funded - to accelerate progress at every level in these key and interlinked areas.
Read more
Open RAN Products, Services & Deployments

Open RAN Products, Services & Deployments

Increasingly, Open RAN equipment has been making it through the phases of R&D, interoperability testing and into real deployments. The UK has traditionally been strong in small cell technology development, in-building solutions and alternative neutral host deployment models.
Read more
Interoperability & Testing

Interoperability & Testing

Interoperability testing (IOT) will be needed whenever more than one Network Equipment Vendor is supplying components (software modules or hardware equipment) based on standardised interfaces. This testing, between the vendors for shared interfaces, is generally based on test specifications supplied by the standards body but can also be based on an agreement between companies or consortia.
Read more
International Landscape

International Landscape

5G deployments are well underway in most developed markets. Arguably, Japan, Korea, China and the USA are all ahead of the UK and Europe in 5G rollout speeds and investment. This may be beneficial when it comes to adoption of Open RAN in the UK – as it could leave larger parts of the networks for Open RAN rollout.
Read more

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