Nokia has joined the Open RAN Policy Coalition to enable a comprehensive approach to 5G and future network generations.
Nokia will help shape policy choices that will impact how wireless networks are built, including support for research and development in open networks.

Members of Open RAN Policy Coalition include Airspan, Altiostar, AWS, AT&T, Cisco, CommScope, Dell, DISH Network, Facebook, Fujitsu, Google, IBM, Intel, Juniper Networks, Mavenir, Microsoft, NEC, NewEdge Signal Solutions, NTT, Oracle, Parallel Wireless, Qualcomm, Rakuten, Samsung Electronics America, Telefonica, US Ignite, Verizon, VMWare, Vodafone, World Wide Technology, and XCOM-Labs.

Leading telecom network suppliers such as Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, among others, are not part of the Open RAN Policy Coalition.

Nokia said Open RAN (O-RAN) technology has the potential to enrich the mobile ecosystem with new solutions and business models, and an expanded multi-vendor ecosystem. Nokia has been working within the O-RAN Alliance to develop the open reference architectures and open interfaces that will be critical to the delivery of interoperable O-RAN solutions.

Finland-based Nokia was the first major vendor to join the O-RAN Alliance and it is co-chairing the workgroups that are defining the Open Fronthaul Interface and the Near Real-time RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), which will help automate and optimize the network.