According to Deloitte estimates, the share of equipment with an open interface (Open Radio Access Network, OpenRAN) in the mobile networks of Russian telecom operators may reach 80% in the next 10 years. The emergence of OpenRAN equipment will be stimulated by the requirements of the authorities to replace foreign equipment for networks of the new 5G standard.

There is now a proprietary (closed) model on the market, when the supplier makes all the elements of the network and only one vendor's equipment is installed at each site. As a result, the market was divided between the five largest players: Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE and Samsung, which together occupied more than 95% of shipments.

OpenRAN equipment is almost never used in Russian communication networks. Its principle entails the construction of a network of standard elements connected by standard interfaces, Anton Shulga, partner and head of the group for work with technology and media companies at Deloitte in the CIS, explained to the publication. This approach, he said, will allow new producers to enter the market.

The ANO Telecommunication Technologies (created by the Element group, Rostelecom and Rostec, unites 25 companies) proposed to oblige telecom operators to build 5G networks on equipment with an open interface, it was reported in October 2020. They offered to allocate new frequencies to operators free of charge, provided that only Russian equipment would be used on them. On November 19, the government approved a 5G development roadmap, according to which the new standard should be developed exclusively on domestic equipment.

Original (in Russian)