According to industry reports, Telkom Kenya has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rakuten Symphony and Airspan to spearhead knowledge transfer, development, and testing of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology in Kenya. This partnership, announced on January 21, marks a significant step toward leveraging 4G and 5G technologies to advance telecommunications innovation on the African continent.
Telkom Kenya CEO Mugo Kibati expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are proud to be investing in the development of our people through the collaborative testing capabilities that we will be building within this consortium to explore the possible benefits of Open RAN in our mobile network.”
The collaboration aims to explore open and flexible network architectures, integrating automation and AI-powered technologies. Telkom Kenya’s involvement focuses on building local expertise and exploring the potential benefits of Open RAN for its mobile network, ultimately contributing to developing homegrown technological solutions.
Under the agreement, Rakuten Symphony will supply centralized and distributed unit infrastructure, along with its industry-leading OSS platform, while Airspan will provide 4G and 5G radio units and the mobile core. Telkom Kenya will contribute local resources and facilities for testing and knowledge transfer.
In collaboration with Rakuten Symphony, Rakuten Mobile will apply insights from its post-5G research subsidized by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
Open RAN separates hardware and software in network architecture, allowing telecom operators to combine components from various vendors. This approach enhances flexibility while reducing both operational and capital costs.
In Africa, the adoption of Open RAN is accelerating due to the demand for cost-efficient, flexible, and innovative wireless communication solutions. According to DataIntelo’s ORAN Market Outlook 2032, the global ORAN market is expected to expand from US$2.78 billion in 2023 to US$26.93 billion by 2032. Africa contributes to this growth as the need for advanced wireless networks rises.
According to Telecom testing solutions provider Simnovus, Open RAN architecture simplifies network deployment and significantly reduces infrastructure costs. Telecom operators can avoid vendor lock-in and achieve substantial savings by eliminating the need for proprietary hardware and software. For Telkom Kenya, adopting this technology could lower operational expenses, allowing the company to redirect those savings toward other strategic business areas.
