What’s the biggest hurdle for telecom operators in Africa looking to modernize their networks? For many, it’s vendor lock-in, high costs and the challenge of deploying networks in rural and underserved areas. Open RAN (O-RAN) and automation are emerging as solutions to increase flexibility, lower costs and expand network coverage faster.
At a recent panel discussion, industry leaders explored how O-RAN and automation are shaping the African telecom landscape. Moderated by Abe Nejad, Publisher of Network Media Group (NMG), the session featured experts from Accenture and Rakuten Symphony, discussing the key drivers behind O-RAN adoption, integration challenges, and the role of AI-driven automation.
Speakers:
Watch the full interview here.
The panelists agreed that vendor lock-in has long been a challenge for African operators, limiting their ability to innovate and scale. Many telcos are now turning to O-RAN as a way to break free from proprietary ecosystems, allowing them to mix and match solutions from different vendors, reducing costs and improving flexibility.
Another key driver is speed of deployment. With many regions still underserved, operators need faster and more cost-effective ways to roll out networks, especially in rural areas. O-RAN enables telcos to deploy networks faster and at a lower cost, helping bridge the digital divide.
While O-RAN offers significant advantages, integrating it into existing 4G and 5G legacy networks presents technical challenges. The panelists pointed out that traditional vendors have often kept interfaces closed, making interoperability difficult. However, as O-RAN adoption grows, more operators are proving that integration is possible, especially when leveraging cloud-native architectures.
Another key challenge is cloud integration. To fully realize the benefits of O-RAN, networks must be cloud-based and software-driven. While some vendors are still in the early stages of cloud adoption, solutions like Rakuten Symphony’s Cloud Native Platform are showing that a fully virtualized, automated network is not just a possibility; it’s already happening.
AI-powered automation is playing a critical role in maximizing the benefits of O-RAN. The discussion highlighted how AI is enabling:
The panelists emphasized that AI is not just improving efficiency; it’s helping operators scale with fewer human resources. In regions where skilled telecom engineers are scarce, AI-driven automation allows networks to be deployed and managed with far less manual intervention.
One of the most significant benefits of O-RAN and automation is lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO). Many African networks rely on diesel-powered infrastructure, which is costly and environmentally unsustainable. By using AI-powered energy optimization, telcos are achieving double-digit energy savings, making networks more cost-effective and sustainable.
The discussion also touched on the long-term financial benefits of O-RAN. While initial deployments may require investment, operators who take the leap are seeing cost savings and increased efficiency over time. With automation reducing the need for manual operations and AI improving network reliability, the economic case for O-RAN is growing stronger.
“Open RAN is such an open interoperable integrated environment that you can automate as much as you want and as much as you like.”
Stay tuned for more insights from industry leaders on the future of telecom and technology. Follow us for updates on upcoming discussions.
