Airspan Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Airspan Networks Holdings Inc., a US-based provider of groundbreaking, disruptive software and hardware for 5G networks, and a pioneer in end-to-end Open RAN solutions, has won three Small Cell Forum Innovation Awards. The awards include:
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- Excellence in Commercial Deployment by a Mobile Network Operator, Rakuten Mobile, for Open RAN network densification deployments featuring Airspan solutions
Excellence by a Private Network Operator for Airspan’s 5G Network in a Box/5G Starter Kit, with Druid Software - Outstanding Contribution to New Small Cell Business Case/Betacom 5G as a Service, powered by Airspan’s comprehensive portfolio of innovative indoor and outdoor private wireless small cells and by the Druid Raemis 4G/5G core platform with unique features designed specifically for critical enterprise applications
- This is the second year in a row Rakuten Mobile and Airspan have been recognized for its innovation and leadership by the Small Cell Forum, and the fifth consecutive year Airspan has been honored by the Small Cell Forum, which announced its 2022 innovation award winners at its annual event on May 24 in London.
Deployment of Open RAN and Small Cells
Rakuten Mobile has demonstrated an open and virtualized RAN network can be deployed at scale, integrating macro cell sites and small cells to improve coverage in hard-to-reach outdoor areas, to boost capacity in hot spots and to provide indoor coverage as well. The Rakuten Mobile network utilizes Airspan’s 4G and 5G small cells and radios specifically optimized for Rakuten Mobile’s unique open and virtualized RAN requirements to provide coverage and capacity in multiple dense urban areas in Japan.
“Small cells play a key role in our network, expanding coverage and capacity and improving densification,” said Sharad Sriwastawa, CTO, Rakuten Mobile, Inc. “Working with Airspan, Rakuten Mobile is able to deploy thousands of cells in a matter of minutes instead of hours or days. This ability to accelerate deployments through plug & play technology is a key differentiator of the Rakuten Mobile network.”