PR86588

NASHUA, N.H., Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-- Open RAN is Set to Enable Faster and Cost-effective 4G Coverage in Ireland

Parallel Wireless, Inc., the leading U.S.-based Open RAN company delivering the

world's only 2G 3G 4G 5G O-RAN solution for rural and urban connectivity, today

announced that Vodafone Ireland, the best and the fastest network provider in

the country, is the first to roll out Open RAN sites across the North West

region using Parallel Wireless O-RAN software to deliver new 4G service to 30

locations in a faster and more cost-efficient way.

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Amid growing demand for mobile broadband services, mobile operators face CAPEX

and OPEX deployment challenges with bringing new coverage or capacity to their end users.

Open RAN is an industry approach to define and build 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G RAN

solutions based on a general-purpose, vendor-neutral hardware and

software-defined technology with open interfaces between the components. Open

RAN allows mobile operators to mix and match radio, software and server

suppliers hence delivering supplier diversity, flexibility in deployments and

TCO reduction. Open RAN CAPEX spent is predicted to reach over $40 billion and

to account for over 50% total RAN spend by 2026.

Vodafone has been a leading proponent of Open RAN driving industry innovation

to reduce deployment cost and avoid vendor lock-in, recently requiring their

vendors to support O-RAN split option 7.2 to ensure interoperability. Vodafone

has had TIP Open RAN trials ongoing in DRC and Turkey with Parallel Wireless

(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2978839-1&h=1028861329&u=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.brandfolder.io%2FD8DI15S7%2Fas%2Fc5tx5crn45cch6w3nrz39s%2FOpenRAN_VF_TK_Playbook_FINAL.pdf&a=Turkey+with+Parallel+Wireless ).

Parallel Wireless' ALL G cloud-native O- RAN solution has shown very strong

performance, quality of service and cost benefits for the operator.

In Ireland, the sites are being built on an O-RAN architecture with a Remote

Radio Unit (RRU) provided by Comba Telecom, Parallel Wireless Distributed Unit

(DU) and Central Unit (CU) software running on a vBBU (virtual Baseband Unit)

provided by Supermicro and deployed on site. The DU/CU software connects to

Parallel Wireless' Near Real-time Intelligent Controller (RIC), located in a

Dublin data center on HP hardware using VMWare ESXi v6.7 virtualized environment.

The announcement today follows a commitment from Vodafone Group to use Open RAN

technology for at least 2,600 sites in the UK. It is the largest commitment to

Open RAN made by any European carrier. Open RAN promises to help build and

expand wireless networks across the regions that Vodafone serves, and provide

next-generation digital services to end users, communities and businesses.

Supporting quotes

Didier Clavero, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone Ireland, said, "Delivering

Open RAN sites is a pivotal moment in the provision of mobile coverage to rural

communities in Ireland, as this pioneering new approach reduces cost, increases

flexibility and enables new suppliers to support the expansion of Vodafone's

mobile network in hard to reach areas. Focusing on the North West region to

begin with, we will continue to identify communities across Ireland where we

can more economically introduce access to voice and high-speed data using the

new technology."

Keith Johnson, Chief Operation Officer, Parallel Wireless, said, "The telecom

industry is demanding networks that are open and flexible in order to reduce

deployment and maintenance cost. We are pleased to be working with Vodafone

Ireland to enable an open ecosystem of disaggregated RAN solutions based on

open interfaces and O-RAN standards, helping to expand coverage quickly and

cost effectively and make a positive impact in the lives of end users with Open RAN."

About Parallel Wireless

At Parallel Wireless, we believe that software has the power to unleash amazing

opportunities for the world. We disrupt the ways wireless networks are built

and operated. We are reimagining how hardware, software and the cloud work

together to change deployment economics for our customers. Our ALL G O-RAN

software platform forms an open, secure and intelligent RAN architecture to

deliver wireless connectivity, so all people can be connected whenever,

wherever, and however they choose. We are engaged with over 50 global MNOs and

have been recognized with over 74 industry awards. At the core of what we do is

our team of Reimaginers who value innovation, collaboration, openness and

customer success. For more information, visit: www.parallelwireless.com.

Connect with Parallel Wireless on LinkedIn (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2978839-1&h=1565835195&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2420482-1%26h%3D1695785881%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.linkedin.com%252Fcompany%252Fparallel-wireless-inc-%26a%3DLinkedIn&a=LinkedIn )

and Twitter (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2978839-1&h=3738590139&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2420482-1%26h%3D217690187%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252FParallel_tw%26a%3DTwitter&a=Twitter ).

SOURCE Parallel Wireless

CONTACT: Eugina Jordan, VP, Marketing, Parallel Wireless,

Ejordan@parallelwireless.com, 978-660-8659