NTT DOCOMO operator with Open RAN deployments,

On Q4 2020, NTT Docomo and NEC Declared that they have enlarged multi-vendor interoperability by interconnecting a fresh 5G base station baseband device (5G-CU/DU), developed by NEC and Samsung Electronics and compliant with O-RAN Alliance specifications, together with 5G base station remote radio units (5G-RUs) of different vendors on DOCOMO’s industrial community.

Expanding multi-vendor interoperability based on O-RAN open interface specifications will enable the most appropriate base stations to be used depending on deployment scenarios and taking advantage of specific vendor and equipment characteristics. This will drive the rapid and flexible development of 5G service areas. The new 5G base station baseband unit from NEC realizes multi-vendor interoperability and is the result of a partnership between NEC and Samsung

Expanding multi-vendor interoperability according to O-RAN open interface specifications will allow the most suitable base stations for use depending on deployment situations and taking advantage of particular vendor and equipment features.  This will induce the fast and flexible development of 5G service places.

The new 5G base station baseband unit out of NEC realizes multi-vendor interoperability and is the end result of a partnership between NEC and Samsung.

It’s interoperable with existing vendors 5G base station distant units in DOCOMO’s network due to its adoption of O-RAN open fronthaul specifications; it’s also compatible with existing 4G base stations in DOCOMO’s network as a result of the adoption of O-RAN open X2 specifications. Throughout their cooperation, DOCOMO chose the test products, implemented the multi-vendor interoperability tests and examined the outcomes; NEC and Samsung Electronics provided the 5G base station equipments and examined the evaluation results.

Another important milestone was about  DOCOMO, Fujitsu and NEC attaining what they think to be the world’s first carrier aggregation utilizing 5G frequency bands at a multi-vendor radio access network (RAN) based  on O-RAN specs. Carrier aggregation was achieved using the 3.7GHz and 4.5GHz bands used for 5G networks and in addition to this dual connectivity achieved by bundling LTE bands, downlink speeds of 4.2 Gbps will be achievable, enabling ultra-fast data transmission.

For information DOCOMO already provides commercial 5G services in Japan through a multi-vendor RAN that connects baseband units and remote radio units manufactured by Fujitsu and NEC based on O-RAN’s open fronthaul specs