In order for digital networking to reach its full potential, the technology requires continuous upgrades in terms of capacity and speed. The global pandemic has caused everyone to rethink the requirements of this resource. With more people working at home, studying at home, and keeping themselves entertained remotely, existing systems were stretched to their limits. While 5G infrastructure promises to make high-speed internet a given for half the world, operators will still have to find new innovations to meet the ever-increasing demands on cyberspace.
Open Networks Can Expand Bandwidth to Help Meet Demand
Open networking describes using open standards compatible with various components, including both software and hardware. By creating open networks, engineers and developers can improve the extendibility and expandability of existing networks.
The industry needs to focus on a move towards an open radio access network (open RAN) to support the growing needs of customers who will always want more. In particular, we need to support open RAN deployments for operators, moving towards flexible adaptation to this new technology.
Open networks can come to the rescue of telecom providers who still rely on legacy networks that can no longer handle the increasing demands of users. Because they are vendor-agnostic, open networks can help developers expedite the launch of digital services. Additionally, it facilitates edge computing.
The Move to Open Wireless Networks
Despite growing concern over cybersecurity. Open wireless networks have increased in popularity. An open wireless network appears with the list of available networks in your area they acquired no security to use.
Open wireless networks, intelligent RANs and other innovations represent a move away from developing proprietary infrastructure. If the industry continues to move in this direction, it will position telecom companies as well for providing robust digital networks for current and future users.
Open Radio Access Networks, also called Open RAN, champions the idea of open software, hardware, and interfaces that work seamlessly together to create a strong digital network for cellular wireless devices.
Adopting open RAN technology allows network experts to create open infrastructure deployment, lowering the cost of developing new products and making them available. By adopting open RAN, the industry can empower innovative opportunities for those who want to enter the space. This could lead to supply chain diversification and create competition in the arena.
5G Needs Open Networks
5G networks have more moving parts than previous generations, making them very hard to understand. This is particularly true if you want to create products that use the new technology. 5G deployment has heated up considerably and it creates a great opportunity for the development of open RAN systems.
One of the most interesting capabilities promised for 5G, for example, is network slicing. Networks splicing allows users to send more than one data set or application specification on a shared network. So, you can expedite the processing of time-sensitive data like IoT traffic for manufacturers versus data traffic on a user cell phone versus a VPN connection for various employees.
This virtualization improves performance and makes better use of the existing network. However, 5G needs more computer power to accomplish any of these goals. Governments and other regulators have supported the completion of the 5G ecosystem. There's still much work to be done in orchestrating the use of the networks and developing solutions for any issues that arise.
What Will a More ‘Open’ Future Bring?
Telecom and other industries relying on digital networking have reached an inflection point. Open technologies and infrastructure are based more on software than hardware requirements can I expand the bandwidth of 5G infrastructures. Open RAN can attract a variety of suppliers to deliver highly available open-source tools to help shortcut the development of cloud-driven tools.
Open RAN also makes it easier for telecom companies and others to implement a mixture of both traditional and cloud-based architectures. As they make the difficult shift away from complicated telecom equipment, open rank and help maintain legacy systems as new solutions come online.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JEFF POIRIOR
Jeff brings 25 years of telecommunications and information technology management experience in voice and data networking, server support, and telephony and security; with a significant emphasis on customer service. Prior to joining Valicom, he was chief of the infrastructure support section for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Jeff was the vice president of operations for CC&N, overseeing telecommunications, help desk, data, and desk side support services. Prior to that, he served as the associate director of technical resources for Covance, responsible for managing systems and network operations supporting 1700 users in Wisconsin and Virginia. He has also led data center operations at Magnetek Electric, supporting mainframe systems, client/server applications, telephony systems, and computer-aided design. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cardinal Stritch University and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Phoenix. In addition, Jeff is a past board member of the Wisconsin Telecommunication Association.