Telecom operator Vodafone Group has tied up with Lime Microsystems to develop software-defined cellular radio platforms that support Vodafone’s OPEN RAN vision.
The app-enabled LimeNET platform aims to bring together developers to provide innovative cellular applications quickly and cost effectively. The applications are aiming to cover all aspects of Radio Access Network (RAN) functionalities and services on top, ranging from 4G, NB-IoT to Enterprise specific applications.
“Lime Micro is at the forefront of Software Defined Radio wireless technology development, and the platform brings the concepts of agile and feature-rich systems together, unlocking new applications that leverage this radio flexibility and a completely different Radio,” said Francisco Martin, head of Radio Product, Vodafone Group Technology.
Lime Microsystems CEO Ebrahim Bushehri said LimeNET is the next phase in virtualizing wireless networks and bringing products that operators can use for future real-world deployments.
“The radio was limited before in terms of the flexibility of providing various frequencies and modes, but we’ve solved that with our field programmable radio that can adapt dynamically to multiple bands,” Ebrahim Bushehri said.
By making radio networks software configurable, LimeNET is aligning with Vodafone’s Open RAN initiative to virtualize RAN functionality and enable decoupling of hardware, software and third party applications using general purpose platforms.
