DISH has successfully integrated and validated end-to-end 5G connections using the industry’s first O-RAN compliant FDD radio, developed by MTI. The field validation took place through DISH’s fully-virtualized standalone 5G core network in Cheyenne, WY. DISH has also reached an agreement with MTI for Open RAN radio units (RUs) to support its nationwide network deployment.
“Working with our software partner Mavenir and our core vendor Nokia, we have successfully integrated the MTI radios with our cloud-native 5G network, and we are proud to announce that we have demonstrated on-air 5G connections through the industry’s first Open RAN-compliant FDD radio,” said Marc Rouanne, DISH Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer. “MTI has been a trusted DISH partner for nearly 30 years. We have been working very closely on the development of this radio with MTI, and the deployment of the O-RAN architecture will benefit both DISH and our customers.”
“As the U.S. leader in developing an open, cloud-native network, DISH is the ideal partner for us to collaborate with on our RUs, which comply with DISH’s O-RAN specifications and have been designed for a multi-supplier environment enabled by open networks,” said Allen Yen, Chairman and CEO of MTI. “Integrating software from Mavenir and working with DISH, we are able to demonstrate the performance of this platform, which promises to facilitate faster innovation, increased security, and lower cost to market.”
As part of the agreement, MTI will supply DISH with Low Band Tri-Band and Mid Band Dual-Band radio units (RUs), which cover the key spectrum bands being deployed by DISH.
