Rural internet service provider Quickline Communications said it is the first internet service provider in the U.K. to commercially deploy a 5G standalone, cloud-based, Open RAN solution for Fixed Wireless Access service.
Ian Smith, Quickline’s Chief Technology Officer, said the firm can now quickly bring high speed connectivity to rural communities. “All internet and mobile phone providers will be able to compete on a level playing field, no matter their size, and deliver the government ambition to connect rural communities,” he said.
Quickline has been testing its own fully cloud-native Open RAN solution, alongside a number of suppliers, for the past two years in a million-dollar project to boost rural connectivity in North Yorkshire. “The deployment came as a result of our involvement in the U.K. 5G testbed programme, we have developed and commercialized a 5G standalone, cloud-native OpenRAN network, which utilizes the N77 spectrum band as part of Ofcom’s Shared Access Spectrum license,” Smith said.
For the last two years, Quickline has been leading a $7.2 million government-funded project to boost rural connectivity in North Yorkshire. Following an evaluation process, Quickline selected Mavenir as the key technology provider in developing a Cloud-Native Open-RAN solution.
Quickline has seen rapid growth over the last year following a $602 million investment by new owners Northleaf Capital Partners. The investment has allowed the company to accelerate its plans to bring broadband speeds to more than 500,000 homes and businesses in rural communities.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Quickline that brings superfast connectivity to our rural communities, bridging the gap between cities and rural villages,” said Mark Seward, Director of Fixed Wireless Access Operations for Quickline.
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