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Open RAN · O-RAN Alliance · 3GPP

Your Vendor Owns Your Network.
Open RAN Sets You Free.

Proprietary RAN locks operators into a single vendor's upgrade cycle, pricing, and roadmap. HCT's Open RAN practice — built on Intel FlexRAN, O-RAN Alliance specs, and multi-vendor integration expertise — breaks that lock and cuts CapEx by 40%.

40%CapEx Reduction vs Legacy RAN
7.2xFronthaul Split Standard
30%OpEx Savings via AI/RIC
Multi-VendorRU + DU + CU + RIC Stack
The Vendor Lock-In Crisis

Proprietary RAN Is Costing You — Every Year

Traditional RAN architecture concentrates BBU, RRH, and management software in a single vendor stack. When that vendor raises prices, slows your roadmap, or exits a market — you have no exit.

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CapEx Inflation with Every Upgrade Cycle
Proprietary RAN vendors capture 60-70% margin on hardware upgrades because you cannot substitute components. A 5G NR macro site costs $80K+ with a single vendor — versus $45K with disaggregated Open RAN on x86 silicon.
Typical 5G RAN CapEx: $2B+ per operator deployment cycle
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Software Upgrades Held Hostage
Need a new feature? Your RAN vendor decides when it ships, what it costs, and whether your hardware qualifies. Beamforming upgrades that should take weeks take 18 months in a proprietary cycle.
Average vendor feature release lag: 12-24 months vs 3-6 months Open RAN
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RIC Intelligence Blocked
The xApp/rApp ecosystem on the RAN Intelligent Controller cannot attach to proprietary base stations. AI-driven load balancing, predictive handover, and energy saving algorithms require open E2/A1/O1 interfaces.
70% of Tier-1 operators plan RIC deployment by 2026 — only possible on Open RAN
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MEA Greenfield Deployments Underserved
Proprietary RAN vendors have thin support presence across MEA markets. Spares take 6+ weeks. Open RAN on standard x86 hardware enables local support, local integrators, and faster time-to-coverage in growth markets.
40+ MEA operators lack viable RAN competitive alternatives today
O-RAN Architecture

Disaggregated. Standards-Based. Intelligent.

O-RAN Alliance defines open interfaces across the full RAN stack. HCT integrates multi-vendor components and adds AI/ML-driven RIC intelligence.

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Non-RT RIC (SMO) A1 Interface

AI/ML policy training, rApp marketplace, network-wide optimization. HCT integrates OpenVINO models pushed to near-RT RIC via A1 policies. Control loop: over 1 second.

>1s loop
↓ A1
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Near-RT RIC E2 Interface

10ms-1s control loop. xApp execution: mobility load balancing, QoS scheduling, interference mitigation. HCT deploys OSC/Radisys Near-RT RIC with custom xApps for private 5G.

10ms-1s loop
↓ E2 / O1
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O-CU (Centralized Unit) — PDCP / RRC F1 Interface

Runs as VNF on Xeon Scalable. Control plane + User plane separation. Handles PDCP encryption, RRC signaling, handover decisions across multi-DU deployments.

VNF on x86
↓ F1-U / F1-C
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O-DU (Distributed Unit) — MAC / PHY-High 7.2x Fronthaul

Intel FlexRAN reference software on Xeon-D handles upper PHY + MAC/scheduler. Connects to O-RU via eCPRI fronthaul at 7.2x split. Real-time scheduling without proprietary firmware.

FlexRAN on x86
↓ eCPRI Fronthaul (7.2x)
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O-RU (Radio Unit) — PHY-Low / RF Open Fronthaul

Passive RF + PHY-Low only. Multi-vendor: Foxconn, Benetel, CommScope. Any 7.2x-certified O-RU works with HCT DU/CU stack. Mix indoor small cells + outdoor macro as needed.

Multi-vendor RU
HCT Capabilities

What HCT Delivers on Open RAN

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Multi-Vendor RAN Integration
RU from Foxconn/Benetel. DU on Intel FlexRAN. CU on Radisys/Wind River. HCT manages integration, lab validation, and field commissioning — you carry no integration risk.
O-RAN Alliance Certified · E2E Integration Lab · MEA Field Proven
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Near-RT RIC and xApp Development
We deploy OSC/Radisys Near-RT RIC and write custom xApps for mobility management, QoS enforcement, and predictive interference mitigation in private 5G environments.
10ms Control Loop · Python/Go xApp SDK · OpenVINO Inference
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Cloud-Native RAN Deployment
Containerized O-CU and O-DU on Kubernetes. Helm charts, GitOps pipelines, zero-downtime upgrades. Your RAN becomes software — managed like any cloud workload with full CI/CD.
CNF Architecture · Helm/Argo · Intel Smart Edge Orchestration
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Energy-Efficient RAN Optimisation
RIC-driven symbol shutdown, carrier aggregation scaling, and sleep-mode scheduling reduce base station energy by 20-30% without impacting KPIs — critical for DEWA/ADWEA-powered sites.
20-30% Energy Reduction · AI-Driven Sleep Mode · Carbon Reporting
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Sovereign RAN for Government
Run O-CU/O-DU on air-gapped on-premise servers. No vendor cloud dependency. Firmware signed and verified locally. Meets UAE TRA sovereign data requirements for defence networks.
Air-Gapped Deployment · Signed Firmware · UAE TRA Compliant
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O1/A1 Observability Stack
Full O1-based telemetry pipeline into your NOC. NETCONF/YANG data models, real-time KPI dashboards, anomaly alerts. We integrate with your existing OSS/BSS or deploy HCT IoP analytics.
NETCONF/YANG · Prometheus/Grafana · HCT IoP Integration
Comparison

Proprietary RAN vs Open RAN: The Numbers

ParameterProprietary RANHCT Open RAN
Hardware Cost (per macro site)$75K-$100K$40K-$55K (40% lower)
Vendor Lock-inFull stack — RU/DU/CU/OAM same vendorBest-of-breed per layer, swap independently
Feature Upgrade Cycle12-24 months (vendor-gated)3-6 months (open software)
AI/RIC IntegrationProprietary ML modules onlyOpen RIC · Custom xApps · OpenVINO
Energy OptimisationLimited vendor tools20-30% savings via RIC energy xApps
Sovereign/Air-Gap DeploymentRequires vendor cloud accessFully air-gapped on x86 servers
MEA Local SupportThin coverage, weeks for sparesHCT regional NOC + standard x86 spares
CapEx ROI Period6-8 years3-4 years
Ready to Disaggregate?

Break Your Vendor Lock-In Today

HCT architects Open RAN for private 5G, operator vRAN, and sovereign networks across MEA. Let us model your CapEx savings.

Request Open RAN Assessment Private 5G Solutions