DISH announces the United States' first Open RAN-based 5G network

DISH may be best known as a content-provision service, being responsible for DISH satellite TV and Sling. However, it also became a carrier in the US in 2020 with the acquisition of Boost Mobile. Now, it has announced that it will be adding 5G to its portfolio soon.

This will be done via an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, which means the "antennae" and "base-station" parts of DISH's 5G services will be compatible with the respective hardware from any given vendor. O-RAN can even be cloud-based or virtualized (vRAN), which will also play a role in DISH's plans.

The company has engaged Qualcomm to supply hardware for this project. That OEM asserts that its 5G RAN platforms will expedite DISH's 5G roll-out, making this process "flexible, scalable, and interoperable". This network lacks a launch date at present, although it will offer the standalone form of this connectivity as well as voice over 5G (Vo5G) in all of its coverage areas.