Samsung, Intel achieve virtualized Open RAN milestone with first end-to-end call

In an industry-first, Samsung Electronics and Intel Corporation have successfully completed the first end-to-end call in a lab environment, leveraging a future Intel Xeon processor, codenamed Granite Rapids-D, within a virtualized Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) powered by Samsung’s virtualized RAN (vRAN) 3.0. This landmark achievement highlights the ongoing multi-year collaboration between Samsung and Intel, showcasing their commitment to advancing virtualized Open RAN technologies for improved network performance and capacity.

The breakthrough test was conducted at Samsung’s Research and Development lab in Korea, where the companies utilized Samsung’s vRAN, integrated with Intel’s Granite Rapids-D processor, alongside Samsung’s Core and test devices. The successful call not only demonstrated significant performance gains but also showcased a reduction in power consumption. These pivotal results are set to be showcased at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2024, underlining the technical prowess and forward-looking approach of both Samsung and Intel.

Building on a partnership that started in 2017, Samsung and Intel have consistently pushed the envelope in vRAN development. This collaboration has seen the integration of each generation of Intel’s processors into Samsung’s vRAN solutions, including the 3rd and 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors. Their combined efforts have led to commercially viable large-scale vRAN deployments with Tier-1 operators worldwide.

Dong Geun Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Technology Strategy Group at Samsung Electronics’ Networks Business, emphasized Samsung’s role as a global vRAN innovator. Lee highlighted the company’s dedication to expanding its ecosystem with leading partners like Intel, aiming to spearhead the software-centric transformation in mobile networks.

Cristina Rodriguez, Vice President and General Manager of the Wireless Access Networking Division at Intel, reflected on the achievement as a testament to the robust collaboration between Samsung and Intel. Rodriguez underscored Intel’s commitment to evolving its Xeon processor roadmap to meet the dynamic needs of operators, enabling new innovations across energy efficiency, vRAN capacity, and AI technologies.

Beyond the integration of Samsung’s vRAN software on Granite Rapids-D, the partnership is set to explore AI innovations in radio networks. These advancements aim at unlocking future Radio Access Network (RAN) use cases, including power optimization, traffic steering, and improved spectral efficiency.

Samsung continues to lead the charge in delivering comprehensive 5G solutions, from chipsets and radios to core networks. Through relentless research and development, Samsung is propelling the industry forward, offering a suite of products that encompass vRAN 3.0, Open RAN, core solutions, private networks, and AI-powered automation tools. Samsung’s network solutions currently empower mobile operators worldwide, connecting hundreds of millions of users across the globe.