Telus starts massive ‘multivendor’ open RAN rollout with Samsung

Samsung’s virtual RAN software will be paired with radios from an undisclosed third party in the network of the Canadian operator

A prominent victim of the Canadian clampdown on Huawei, Telus previously did a rapid switch from full reliance on the controversial Chinese vendor to the use of Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung. By 2022, it was boasting a 5G network that covered more than 80% of the population. But the operator has continued to project enthusiasm for newer open and virtualized radio access network (RAN) technology. This year, it announced today, it will start work on a major 4G and 5G rollout led by Samsung.

The plan is to “hit cruising speed” later this year and have converted between 40% and 50% of all mobile sites to virtual RAN technology by the end of 2027, said Bernard Bureau, the vice president of wireless strategy and 5G services for Telus. That does not mean immediately ripping out what has been recently installed. In areas where Samsung is present, Telus believes it can use a “converter” to switch from the old “closed” fronthaul specification (CPRI) to a more open eCPRI update. “We have the ability to continue growing our open RAN and virtual RAN footprint within the sites that are today the traditional RAN sites,” Bureau told Light Reading.