KT, NTT Docomo develop system to mix network equipment

KT staff conduct an interoperability test at a testbed established in Seoul on Thursday. [KT]

KT and Japanese telecom company NTT Docomo have succeeded in testing technology that will allow telecom companies to interoperate equipment from different manufacturers for their wireless network services, the company said Thursday.

A radio access network (RAN), a common type of wireless network, is distributed from a central unit (CU) to a base station, referred to as radio unit (RU). The CU is connected to the RU via an optical network dubbed the mobile fronthaul.

Currently, the fronthaul connection can only be made if the manufacturer of both the RU and CU’s equipment is the same. It has been a major hurdle for telecom companies to form an open RAN ecosystem where they can share networks openly and flexibly.

The latest test took place between KT, which did not disclose which manufacturer's equipment it used, and NTT Docomo using Fujitsu’s equipment.

The companies succeeded in interoperating a 5G network using the different manufacturers’ products, which will help form multi-vendor RAN architecture in the future and allow smaller companies to provide their equipment without having to worry about compatibility with other companies’ products.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]