This document summarizes a webinar discussing developments in mobile networks that were highlighted at MWC 2023. The webinar featured presentations from several analysts at Analysys Mason on topics such as open RAN, 5G cloud infrastructure, private networks, transport networks, and challenges around network operations. It concluded with a Q&A session where attendees could ask the analysts questions.

1. Webinar
March 2023
MWC 2023: everything you
need to know
Ibraheem Kasujee
Senior Analyst
Simon
Sherrington
Research Director
Dennisa
Nichiforov
Senior Analyst
Gorkem Yigit
Principal Analyst

2. Simon Sherrington, Research Director
Dennisa Nichiforov, Senior Analyst
Gorkem Yigit, Principal Analyst
Ibraheem Kasujee, Senior Analyst

3. Simon Sherrington, Research Director
Dennisa Nichiforov, Senior Analyst
Gorkem Yigit, Principal Analyst
Ibraheem Kasujee, Senior Analyst

4. Discussions about open RAN and vRAN have
evolved since MWC 2022
Evolution of the RAN
Open RAN: two possible paths
are emerging
Open fronthaul: not necessarily
virtualised
Multi-vendor vRAN is proving
challenging
Progress is slow on 5G standalone
For more information,
see Perfect RAN or
perfect edge: the Open
RAN dilemma facing
operators
Disaggregated
vRAN
vCU
Backhaul
Open/closed
Ethernet
fronthaul
Packet core
RUs/physical DUs
vDU
One-split vRAN
vCU
CPRI
fronthaul
Packet core
RUs/physical DUs
Backhaul
Backhaul
Legacy RAN
Packet core
RRH
BBU
Open/closed
mid-haul

5. There was a strong focus on transport for
delivering 5G services and ensuring QoE
Operator capex by transport network layer,
2022
Layer 0 –
Optical
USD10.4 billion
Layer 1 – OTN
USD13.5
billion
Layer 2 – Ethernet
USD9.7 billion
Layer 3 – IP
USD5.0 billion
Optical transport network (OTN) or no
OTN?
IP optical strategies were high on the
agenda
Optical innovation driving substantial
performance improvements
Programmability
and
energy
efficiency
were
a
focus
for
all
layers
For more information,
see Transport networks:
a technology and
investment framework

6. Simon Sherrington, Research Director
Dennisa Nichiforov, Senior Analyst
Gorkem Yigit, Principal Analyst
Ibraheem Kasujee, Senior Analyst

7. MWC 2023 highlighted the evolution of networking towards multi-cloud
platforms that can be consumed through APIs
Cloud hardware
Cloud-native applications (e.g. CNF/VNF)
Cloud
management
and automation
Platform services
Cloud software
(CaaS/IaaS)
OpenStac
k
Hypervisors/
containers
Kubernete
s
Data centre
SDN and
automation
Cloud networking
Public
cloud
Servers w/
smartNIC/
DPU
Hybri
d
cloud
White-box
routing and
switching
Private
cloud
Public
cloud
Servers with
smartNIC/
DPU
White-box
routing and
switching
Multi-Cloud Networking
Observabilit
y
CI/C
D
Network APIs
Cloud-
native
automation
Open-source
based
standardisation
Network APIs and exposure

8. The battle for 5G cloud infrastructure
intensifies
Network cloud
platforms, and
their exposure to
developers,
were
the focus of
significant
announcements
at MWC 2023
Cloud is spreading to IP/transport
networks
Multi-cloud networking is the next frontier
of investments
NPaaS could provide the missing piece of
the platform puzzle
For more information,
see Analysys Mason’s
Building cost-efficient
cloud-native 5G SA
networks: a TCO
comparison

9. Simon Sherrington, Research Director
Dennisa Nichiforov, Senior Analyst
Gorkem Yigit, Principal Analyst
Ibraheem Kasujee, Senior Analyst

10. At MWC 2023,
CSPs had a strong
focus on business
outcomes but
operational
complexity is a
challenge that still
needs to be
addressed
Main issues affecting
operations
For more information,
see Friend or foe: the
impact of new
technologies on
operators’ management
systems
New and complex
SLAs
Services will have complex
SLAs to cater to
customers’ varying needs
Complexity
Significant operational changes
will be needed to handle the
complexity of 5G architecture
Agile development cycles
Innovation requires
accelerated iterative
developments
Rapid innovation
To benefit from 5G,
innovation must be rapid

11. Applications
will help to deliver
the required
operational
changes
Adoption
of SaaS
Ecosystem
of partners
Focus on
enterprise
services and
private
networks
Rationalisation
and
consolidation
of systems
Need for
automation
Innovation
Operational simplicity is central to transformation

12. Simon Sherrington, Research Director
Dennisa Nichiforov, Senior Analyst
Gorkem Yigit, Principal Analyst
Ibraheem Kasujee, Senior Analyst

13. Operators and vendors have different visions for the private networks
market;
a leading vision is yet to emerge
Exampl
es
Deutsche
Telekom,
Verizon,
Vodafone
Ericsson, Nokia Cisco, HPE
AWS, Google,
Microsoft
Federated
Wireless,
Seashore
Networks,
Spirent
Vision
Extension
of public
cellular
networks
Standalone
private
cellular
networks
Private
networks
and Wi-Fi
Private
networks
and public
cloud/edge
Collaborator
s
Provider
s
Mobile
network
operators
Cellular
network
equipment
providers
Wi-Fi
providers
Hyperscalers
Specialists
and niche
players

14. Discussions at
MWC 2023
underscored
recent trends:
interest in IoT is
declining, while
interest in private
networks
continues to
grow
Notable announcements
For more information, see
MWC 2023: private
networks received more
attention than IoT, despite
several interesting new IoT
ventures
Private
networks
and Wi-Fi
 HPE’s acquisition of Athonet
 Cisco and NTT Ltd partnering for private 5G
Extension of
public
cellular
networks
Private
networks
and public
cloud
 BICS and Microsoft partnering for public-private network
roaming
 AWS‘s ‘Integrated Private Wireless’ programme, in
partnership with five operators
Satellite IoT
 Deutsche Telekom partnering with Intelsat and Skylo
 emnify partnering with Lynk
eSIM/iSIM
LPWAN
convergence
 Eseye partnership with Sequans for iSIM
 Semtech and The Things Industries (TTI) will partner to
develop hybrid LoRaWAN-cellular products
 Unabiz and TTI to develop hybrid LoRaWAN-Sigfox solutions
Private
networks
vision
IoT
topic

15. Simon Sherrington
5G is here, but there is
more work to do.
MWC 2023 felt
pragmatic, with a strong
focus on how to deliver
what 5G has promised.
Gorkem Yigit
Cloud and disaggregation
are advancing in 5G core,
RAN and transport. To
fully realise their potential,
the industry must release
the platform capabilities to
developers.
Dennisa Nichiforov
5G is complex, so
establishing a
meaningful partner
ecosystem is emerging
as a top priority for
CSPs.
Ibraheem Kasujee
Private networking is the
‘hot new topic’ and is
getting more attention
than IoT, but the IoT
market is steadily
addressing some of its
long-standing issues.
Final thoughts

16. Q&A

17. Dennisa Nichiforov
Senior Analyst
Dennisa.Nichiforov@analysysmason.com
www.linkedin.com/in/
dennisa-nichiforov/
Ibraheem Kasujee
Senior Analyst
Ibraheem.Kasujee@analysysmason.com
www.linkedin.com/in/
ibraheem-kasujee
Simon Sherrington
Research Director
Simon.Sherrington@analysysmason.com
www.linkedin.com/in/
simon-sherrington-bb4220a/
Gorkem Yigit
Principal Analyst
Gorkem.Yigit@analysysmason.com
www.linkedin.com/in/
gorkemyigit/
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