NTT DOCOMO named NEC as a virtualized radio access network (vRAN) vendor for its nationwide 5G commercial network services. NEC already provides virtualization technologies for vEPC for DOCOMO’s 4G commercial services and 5G mobile core network (5GC). Going forward, by promoting the virtualization of the RAN domain, NEC will flexibly support DOCOMO’s wide range of services and contribute to the creation of a high-quality 5G network.
In addition, through OREX —the Open RAN service brand provided by DOCOMO in collaboration with telecom carriers and vendors worldwide—NEC’s software will be globally deployed in the same manner as the products and services of other OREX partners to create and promote an Open RAN ecosystem.This vRAN, which achieves carrier-grade quality that is compliant with the O-RAN specifications defined by the O-RAN ALLIANCE, is cloud-native and was developed based on NEC’s 5G hardware base station technology and knowhow, for which it has a proven large-scale commercial track record. Equipped with software compatible with commercially available servers using the latest generation microprocessors, it also delivers high-speed, large-capacity communications unique to 5G by proactively utilizing hardware acceleration to speed up processing.