Parallel Wireless recently announced that they deployed hundreds of programmable virtualized 4G OpenRAN sites to deliver mobile broadband in Latin America through Internet para Todos Perú (IpT Peru).
IpT Peru is a new company launched in May 2019 and owned by Telefonica, Facebook, IDB Invest and CAF banks to provide internet connectivity to users in remote regions of Peru.
Traditionally, high investment and operational cost and the deployment complexity of low-density deployments have prevented MNOs from bringing coverage to these areas. And, technological evolution has focused on scaling capacity for urban rather than on creating efficient downscaled solutions in areas with lower population.
As of today, IpT Peru has deployed hundreds of new sites in Peru using Parallel Wireless fully virtualized and automated OpenRAN architecture.
The technology brings much more flexibility and agility to the deployment and management of a telco access network. The Parallel Wireless OpenRAN Controller creates a multi-vendor, multi-operator, open ecosystem of interoperable components for the various RAN elements and from different vendors. All new radio units are self-configured by the software, reducing the need for manual intervention. The self-optimization capability automates optimization across different RANs in IpT Peru’s network, utilizing available RAN data from all RAN types (macros and small cells). This creates an open business model, where MNOs can partner with local companies that focus on rural coverage to enable lean cost structure that fits the business case of targeting the long tail of the unconnected and operational simplicity.
Renan Ruiz, CTO, IpT
We have selected Parallel Wireless OpenRAN to help us reduce our network deployment costs through disaggregation of hardware and software, RAN and core virtualization and network automation with real-time SON for deployments across Latin America and 5G readiness.
Steve Papa, Founder and CEO, Parallel Wireless
As one of the innovative communication providers, Telefónica understands the true potential of software, virtualization, and openness.