CommScope joins Meta's Evenstar program

Networking technology company CommScope has teamed up with Facebook’s Meta Connectivity to encourage the accelerated adoption of Open RAN technology.

Under the agreement, CommScope will work with Meta Connectivity and other companies involved in Meta’s Evenstar program to further the design and development of flexible radio access network (RAN) components.

The collaboration has a specific focus on developing massive MIMO technology based on interoperability specifications developed by the O-RAN Alliance. Massive MIMO is designed to substantially increase spectral efficiency to deliver more network capacity and wider coverage.

The Massive MIMO reference design will provide telecom operators with the option to further disaggregate a network’s filter and antenna elements from the radio unit.

CommScope will support over-the-air testing of the antenna within a lab environment, while Meta Connectivity will work with control and distribution unit software vendors for interoperability testing.

“We are excited to have CommScope’s expertise in innovative antenna interfaces as part of our Evenstar program,” commented Jaydeep Ranade, Director of Wireless Engineering at Meta Connectivity.

“This collaboration will help facilitate an ecosystem of high-quality connectivity — something that becomes more important every day as we move to an increasingly digitally connected world.”

CommScope SVP for Outdoor Wireless Networks Farid Firouzbakht added that CommScope is “thrilled” to be joining the Evenstar ecosystem.

“Open RAN is gaining momentum in the marketplace and mMIMO 5G deployments will require cooperation and collaboration between vendors based on competitive reference models,” he said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Lemonsoup14