The Italian operator is joining the initiative launched by Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone in January.
Europe’s largest four operator groups signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the development and implementation of open solutions for mobile networks last month.
TIM said in a statement that this “enhances the company’s individual commitment to developing innovative solutions for the mobile ultrabroadband network which, by exploiting open virtualised architecture, facilitates increasingly agile, flexible, secure and functional communication for the spread of 5G digital services.
“The initiative will provide strong impetus to the introduction of the broadband mobile network’s new functionalities, in particular the 5G ones, promoting an increasingly widespread deployment and improving its management. “
The Open RAN plan
The idea behind disaggregating the RAN is that it will open up the market to more competitors, thereby encouraging both innovation and lower prices.
Both will be important to help operators make money from their 5G investment by enabling new digital services at a profit, such as for Industry 4.0.
The initiative is also calling for support from the EU and national governments to help Europe develop the technology.
Solid opportunity
“TIM’s commitment to the creation of an O-RAN ecosystem,” stated Michele Gamberini, TIM’s CTIO (pictured), “in addition to supporting Italian companies already developing solutions for new generation mobile networks, represents a solid opportunity to ensure our country plays a leading role as a provider of technologies for the digital transformation on a European scale.
By signing up to the MoU with the operators, TIM is reinforcing its commitment to contribute to the development of Open RAN technology in Europe.”