Vodafone names NEC as a key partner for 5G massive MIMO radio units supporting commercial deployment of Open RAN in the UK

摘要

NEC Corporation announced that it has been named as a key partner by Vodafone in the UK for supplying 5G massive MIMO radio units (RU) for the operator's initiative to build one of the largest commercial Open Radio Access Networks (RAN) in the world. Following Vodafone's announcement of its plan to initially deploy Open RAN to 2,500 sites in the UK, starting this year, the operator will work with key vendors to extend 4G and 5G coverage in rural areas in the South West of England and most of Wales, later moving into urban areas. NEC will be responsible for supplying its industry-leading massive MIMO 5G radio units that are compatible with the O-RAN Alliance 7-2x split. NEC will utilize its advanced technologies, commercial deployment experiences in Japan and its Open RAN Center of Excellence (CoE) in the UK to support Vodafone's Open RAN deployment.