Orange France and Samsung have made noteworthy strides in the telecommunications sector by successfully finalizing the first virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) and Open RAN calls in southwestern France. This accomplishment is part of their joint effort to promote an open, software-based mobile infrastructure, moving beyond lab testing and into real-world application.
Transitioning from the lab to field trials, Orange’s Open RAN strategy has shown significant promise. The tests revealed the potential for delivering excellent network performance and reliability using Samsung’s vRAN technology. The ongoing pilot project is crucial for Orange as the company seeks to diversify its supplier base while adopting flexible cloud-based network architectures. By the end of 2025, additional testing is planned for other sites in southwestern and western France.
Samsung has provided comprehensive vRAN solutions during the pilot. These include support for various radio bands, featuring three-band O-RAN-compliant radios and 3.5GHz Massive MIMO radios. The use of Samsung’s CognitiV Network Operations Suite further enhances the process. It integrates AI-powered orchestration tools to automate network operations and support zero-touch provisioning.
Commenting on this accomplishment, Emmanuel Lugagne Delpon, CTO of Networks at Orange France, noted the significance of this first call as “an important milestone.” Similarly, June Moon, Executive Vice President at Samsung Networks, highlighted how the project illustrates the effectiveness of Samsung’s vRAN and Open RAN technologies. According to Moon, they enable high-quality, reliable connectivity and support the integration of AI and other emerging technologies by French operators.
The collaboration has extended beyond Samsung and Orange. Dell Technologies provided servers, Intel supplied processors, and Wind River offered the cloud platform for the endeavor. This builds on previous collaborations, such as a joint 2G vRAN call over Open RAN in Romania.