What's Happening?
Japan is emerging as the global leader in open vRAN deployments, with Rakuten Mobile operating the world's largest open vRAN network. NTT Docomo and KDDI have also deployed early commercial versions of
open vRAN. Despite Japan's leadership, regional adoption in Asia-Pacific remains limited, with countries like India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Vietnam conducting trials but lacking large-scale commercial rollouts. According to Omdia, integration and performance issues are the main barriers to open RAN expansion across APAC. The adoption of artificial intelligence-driven and cloud-native architectures is accelerating RAN transformation, yet full-scale Open RAN adoption remains limited outside Japan.
Why It's Important?
Japan's leadership in open vRAN technology sets a precedent for other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. The successful deployment of open vRAN networks can lead to more flexible and cost-effective telecommunications infrastructure, enabling operators to offer improved services and expand coverage. The challenges faced by other countries in adopting open RAN highlight the need for solutions to integration and performance issues, which are critical for widespread adoption. As more countries explore open vRAN, the telecommunications industry could see increased competition and innovation, benefiting consumers with better connectivity and services.
What's Next?
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are likely to continue exploring open vRAN technology through pilot deployments and trials. As integration and performance challenges are addressed, more operators may adopt open RAN solutions, potentially leading to larger-scale commercial rollouts. The growing presence of Asian vendors in the open vRAN market could drive further innovation and competition. Operators will need to identify specific use cases where open RAN can be effectively implemented, such as rural, indoor, and private network deployments.
