What is Open RAN?

Like almost everything in Telecom’s, Open RAN is complicated. It’s not a single idea. It’s not a single product or service. It’s not an optimization technique or path towards improved efficiency.

Heck, it’s hardly even an agreed term. You’ll find references in the literature to OpenRAN, Open RAN (my preference), ORAN, and O-RAN. I’m not aware that there is a commonly accepted term. I prefer the term Open RAN and will use that throughout this article.

But whatever it’s called, it’s easy to grasp.

OpenRAN is essentially 2 foundational ideas:

  1. The disaggregation of network functionality from the underlying hardware. In other words, software-defined functionality.
  2. The specification of discrete functional blocks having well-defined interfaces. In other words, modularity.

These ideas are both pretty simple.

Continue reading “What is Open RAN?”

5 Tips to More LinkedIn Views

Attracting candidates for technical roles can be quite a challenge. If you want to expose your job description to as many people as possible, consider using LinkedIn.

I don’t mean buying a job posting on LinkedIn. I mean posting an update as a LinkedIn subscriber hoping to drive interested candidates to the job description on your employer’s website.

We all know that finding good candidates is a numbers game: the more people who see your job description, the more likely you are to attract good candidates, and qualified applicants.

Write the post you want to publish. Then, apply the tips described below to drive more traffic.

To attract the largest number of potential candidates, here are 5 tips for increasing the reach of your posting on LinkedIn.

Continue reading “5 Tips to More LinkedIn Views”

Shell Command Pipelines

Shell command pipelines are a feature of *nix shells. This feature allows you to redirect the output of one command directly to the input of another command. Command pipelines are built by typing a syntactically correct command, then entering the “pipe character, “|” then another syntactically correct command. This can be done as many times as required.

This is fabulously useful. It allows you to perform many tasks with a single command. Each individual command performs a relatively simple, straightforward function. When multiple commands are piped together,  minutes worth of typing, copying, and pasting are compressed into a single command.

If you’re already familiar with command pipelines, please let me know if I made any mistakes. If you aren’t familiar with them, adding them to your toolkit is a big upgrade to your capabilities. Continue reading “Shell Command Pipelines”

Open Telecom Projects will destroy the Operator business as we know it.

The basic goal of these projects is to disaggregate the large proprietary network functions, such as the RAN or the EPC, and allow them to run on Commercial-Off-The-Shelf COTS hardware.

If they are successful, here are some impacts to expect:

1️⃣ ISVs become major players in the #telecoms ecosystem, displacing the traditional vendors.

2️⃣ Many more Linux instances will run in both public and private clouds.

3️⃣ Layer 2/3 networks become increasingly important to connect the Mobile Edge, Cores, and Clouds.

4️⃣ Future technology upgrades will more resemble the Apps on your phone than today’s forklift swap-outs. 5G will be the last G.

5️⃣ CapEx shifts to OpEx as bespoke applications servers are replaced by software running on generic Linux instances in the Cloud. This will have huge implications for today’s capital-intensive Telecoms business. So much of today’s Capital Expenditure will tomorrow be replaced by monthly recurring Operating Expenses.

6️⃣ A disaggregated network will be orchestrated dynamically by AI.

This list is not exhaustive. But the changes will be mind-boggling.

What do you think? How will disaggregation change the business?

Leave me a comment with your ideas.

I have a list of Open Telecoms Projects which I’ve been following. 18 Projects and counting! Click the link below to download a copy. If there’s a project you follow which isn’t on the list, kindly post it in the comments.

Download Open Telecoms Projects

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

When is an innovative, cutting edge, wireless technology not mobile?

When it’s WiFi!

WiFi has many benefits #Mobiles might want to emulate.

For example,

✅WiFi technology generations are ~3.5 years. For Mobiles, it’s more like 10 years.

✅Each new WiFi generation, so far, has been backward compatible will all previous generations.

✅WiFi Base Station cost, even a carrier-grade one, is roughly 2 orders of magnitude cheaper than a Mobile base station.

✅Lastly, WiFi’s 6 generations all use the same, original RF spectrum. Mobile generations always need new spectrum. Think of the impacts if new Mobile generations could be deployed in the same spectrum.

I know this is not apples-to-apples comparison.

For example, Mobiles must manage mobility, which WiFi does not. Billing, roaming and subscriber management are all “built-into” mobiles. For WiFi, they’re bolt-ons.

My point is WiFi has features nice for mobiles to have. I believe some of these features might arise from success of the Open Telecom Projects.

What do you think? Many of you may see an Open Telecoms Project before you’ll see 5G anything.

I have a list of Open Telecoms Projects which I’ve been following. 18 Projects and counting! Click the link below to download a copy. If there’s a project you follow which isn’t on the list, kindly post it in the comments.

Download Open Telecoms Projects

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

The reasons Mobile Generations are long and difficult.

In this video series, we’ve been talking about Open Telecoms Projects.

In the previous video, I asked why Mobile generations are so long, why they’re a forklift upgrade, and why they require new spectrum.

Reasons mobile technology generations are 10 years long

I asked you, my #telecomtribe, to suggest your own ideas. You still can, in the comments.

I’m sure there are many reasons. Here are 3.

👉Cultural Inertia/comfort zone.

👉Cost recovery & depreciation. Telecom vendors invest tons in R&D, and in manufacturing. They need time to recoup that investment. Maybe 10 years. Operators also need time to earn back their costs to buy and support the kit.

👉Infrastructural. Upgrading any infrastructure is a long, difficult process. Consider the construction of roads, airports, sewers, electricity distribution, plumbing. #Telecoms #Networks are another form of infrastructure.

Maybe it’s simple muscle memory. It’s been this way so long we can no longer imagine things being any different.

What do you think? What are your reasons?

In the next video, we’ll consider an example which is different. Better, even. Relevant.

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

Why do Mobile generations take so long, and why do they require a forklift and new spectrum?

This topic doesn’t get discussed often. It’s as though we, as an industry, have come to accept this as one of the physical laws, and we never think about it.

Why do mobile technology generations take 10 years to arrive?

In my next video, I’ll discuss your answers and share my own theories.

I’ve a list of Open Telecoms Projects. Click the link to download the list. Post a comment if you know of others which should be on the list.

Download Open Telecoms Projects.

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

Open Telecoms Projects. What’s the Big Deal?

Each project has its own specific goals or mission statement. But, in general, they’re all trying to break down the monolithic proprietary solutions Telecom has relied upon for years.

These projects seek to disaggregate large functional modules into smaller, software-based solutions running on commoditized hardware or clouds.

The benefits of Open Telecoms Projects

Why is this important?

There are several reasons.

🎯Cost. Some claim there will be costs savings. I disagree. Costs will simply shift from vendors to operators. In both paradigms the operator pays. But in the Open paradigm, the cost is of in-house staff managing kit from multiple vendors.

🎯Speed. Presently, the industry undergoes a forklift upgrade of the network every 10 years. Disaggregation should make upgrades incremental, much like the apps on your smartphone.

🎯Innovation. By opening interfaces, new players will be able to compete. ISVs will enter markets formerly closed to them.

There is more to say about this. But I’d like to know what you think so far?

Do you agree with my view of openness?

I’ve a list of Open Telecoms Projects you can download. 18 Projects and counting!

Download Open Telecoms Projects

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

Will Open Standards Impact Telecoms?

Last week at Telecoms World Asia the 5G track was very popular.

Although 5G is widely expected to require years to mature, its many significant advances seem certain to have a dramatic impact on the industry.

Open Telecoms Projects seek to disaggregate monolithic, proprietary network functionality

During the conference, I met with Ron Isom of the Open Networking Foundation (ONF). Our brief chat reinforced my belief that defining more of the network with standard interfaces will also be quite impactful.

And just like 5G, it may take years for networks governed by these standards to mature.

I’ve been closely following several of these open Telecom projects. One important success factor is participation and even leadership from network #operators. This increases my confidence that these projects can succeed.

My interest in these open standards fuels my belief in the impact open standards will have. Maybe even as impactful as 5G.

I’ve got a list of the open standards projects I’ve been following. Click the link below to download it. If there’s a project you follow which isn’t on the list, kindly post it into the comments.

ownload the Open Telecoms Projects.

What do you think? What kind of impact do you think open standards can have on the industry?

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

Do you listen to Podcasts?

Recently, I’ve found space in my schedule to listen to Podcasts.

Podcasts are a fabulous way to stay informed and to turn idle time into productive time.

I listen to many different Podcasts, including Telecoms Podcasts.

Get my list of Telecom Podcasts https://bangkokbeachtelecom.lpages.co/telecom-podcasts

I like to listen when I work out. But you can also listen when you commute, or any time you do something which does not fully consume your attention.

One of my favorites is from another #TelecomPros, Wade Sarver. He hosts the Podcast Wade4Wireless. Check it out.

Another Podcast I like is TelecomsRadar.

I’ve compiled a list of 18 Telecoms Podcasts. Click the link below to download the list.

Download my list of Telecoms Podcasts

If you listen to any Telecoms Podcasts, kindly leave me a comment with a URL to the Podcast. I’ll add it to my list.

As the list grows, I’ll resend it occasionally.

What’s your favorite Telecoms Podcast?

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.