DOCOMO applauds xRAN Forum's open Fronthaul Specification

TOKYO, JAPAN, April 20, 2018 --- NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that it welcomes the xRAN Forum's release of the xRAN Fronthaul Specification which sets the foundation for next-generation open radio access network (RAN) architecture on April 12, US time. The specification will facilitate integration of multi-vendor RAN, which DOCOMO expects to contribute in further advancing the RAN and in expanding the ecosystem in the 5G era.

A multi-vendor RAN realizes interconnection between baseband units and remote radio units supplied from different vendors, and radio access networks can be built efficiently by utilizing base station equipment suited to deployment scenarios.

DOCOMO has actively collaborated with partner vendors to construct its current multi-vendor LTE network incorporating advanced C-RAN architecture. As a committed member of the xRAN Forum, DOCOMO will continue to promote open RAN interfaces.

"We are pleased to have worked with xRAN members in reaching the key milestone of delivering the first open xRAN fronthaul specification," said Dr. Hiroshi Nakamura, EVP and CTO of NTT DOCOMO. "We believe that the completion and publication of this specification will contribute to further advancing the RAN and to expanding the ecosystem in the 5G era. DOCOMO will keep contributing to this activity with the experience we have in realizing multi-vendor interoperable RAN with our partners using common interfaces for our LTE network."

The xRAN Forum develops, standardizes and promotes open and extensible RAN architecture. http://www.xran.org