Virgin Media O2 announced the activation of the live sites in Virgin Media O2’s network, as part of multi-vendor Open RAN deployment.

This multi-vendor Open RAN system deployment on macro-sites in the UK is notable for being in a brownfield network and baselined on the existing Telco Cloud supply chain to maximize future synergies.

NEC’s integration capabilities and open end-to-end solution, combined with Rakuten Symphony’s Open RAN software, edge cloud, and radio management and operations system, ensured the activation of the UK macro-sites while delivering vendor diversity and innovation.

These first live Open RAN macro-sites in Virgin Media O2’s network are possible after testing at NEC and Rakuten Symphony’s labs in India and NEC’s Global Open RAN Centre of Excellence lab in Ruislip, London.

The Virgin Media O2 Open RAN deployment aligns with the UK government’s efforts to diversify future telecom supply chains, recognizing Open RAN’s importance in safeguarding security, resilience, innovation, and competition in critical national infrastructure.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “The activation of Virgin Media O2’s first UK macro-sites demonstrates the potential of the multi-vendor Open RAN model.”