As telecom networks evolve with the expansion of 5G and next-generation technologies, Open RAN (Radio Access Networks) is emerging as a revolutionary framework for the industry. Open RAN shifts away from traditional vendor-locked ecosystems, offering operators greater flexibility and cost efficiency by embracing a vendor-agnostic approach. At Connect44, our extensive experience in implementing Open RAN technologies showcases our commitment to innovative, future-proof network solutions.

Open RAN: A New Era of Flexibility

Traditional radio access networks have been dependent on proprietary hardware and software systems from individual vendors, limiting flexibility, increasing costs, and stifling innovation. Open RAN breaks this cycle by enabling disaggregation—the separation of hardware and software components. This allows telecom operators to select best-in-class solutions from multiple vendors rather than being confined to a single, monolithic provider.

At the core of Open RAN is the principle of interoperability. It enables different hardware, software, and network components to work together seamlessly. Open interfaces and standardized protocols facilitate this flexibility, ensuring that operators can tailor their networks to meet specific needs. This flexibility not only drives cost-efficiency but also accelerates the deployment of new services and features, such as edge computing and AI-driven automation.

Connect44’s Role in Open RAN Integration

At Connect44, we provide end-to-end services that assist telecom operators in adopting Open RAN frameworks. Our support spans from fault management and performance monitoring to change and event management. Our Technical Assistance Centers (TAC) ensure 24/7 fault management, performance optimization, and spares management across critical incidents. This continuous support helps operators maintain high service availability, particularly in complex multi-vendor Open RAN environments.

Our work on Open RAN trials for various vendors (showcasing our vendor-agnostic approach) is a prime example of how we help operators transition to Open RAN systems smoothly. Through these trials, we manage end-to-end performance monitoring, preventive maintenance, and escalate issues promptly via our 24/7 managed services. Our focus on performance management and traffic KPIs allows us to provide operators with a real-time understanding of network efficiency, ensuring that Open RAN systems operate reliably even during heavy traffic conditions.

We are also involved in Service Review Meetings (SRMs) to evaluate the ongoing performance of Open RAN systems and address any challenges promptly. This ongoing evaluation ensures that operators can meet their SLAs (Service Level Agreements) and maintain high service standards. Our team assists with alarm notifications, log collection, and troubleshooting, ensuring fast responses to any disruptions in service.

How Connect44 Can Help

• NOC Services: Supporting multiple vendors with robust Network Operations Centre (NOC) services.
• Performance Management: Daily monitoring of availability and traffic KPIs, along with a full KPI report featuring an initial assessment of any observed degradations.
• Change Management: Coordinating with TAC2 to raise and update change requests to customers and potentially implementing standard changes in the network. We ensure that monitoring processes and KPIs are in place post-change.
• Monitoring: Comprehensive alarm monitoring across virtual and physical infrastructures, including license and certificate management.
• Preventive Maintenance: Conducting regular backups of configurations, jump servers, virtual machines, and databases, with restoration as needed and regular reporting.
• Fault Escalation: All critical, high, medium, and low-level alarms are escalated to TAC2 in accordance with service levels and priorities.
• Service Review: Connect44 conducts Service Review Meetings (SRM) with stakeholders to analyse solution performance over specific periods and address any issues requiring attention.

The adoption of Open RAN presents an exciting opportunity for telecom operators to build more flexible, scalable, and cost-efficient networks. At Connect44, we are deeply involved in helping operators embrace this vendor-agnostic framework by providing comprehensive support across network planning, integration, and operational management. Our expertise in performance management, fault monitoring, and network optimization ensures that operators can fully leverage the benefits of Open RAN and future-proof their networks for the next phase of telecom evolution.