Here are some words you don’t always associate with standard COTS servers for Open RAN:

Sleek. Stylish. Beautiful.

But Rakuten Symphony Symware™ product was not just any Open RAN distributed unit (DU). When it was introduced in 2022, it was designed to power the Open RAN revolution while standing apart in its features, performance and industrial design.

At MWC Barcelona, Rakuten Symphony is announcing its latest version, the Symware 2.0 server for Open RAN distributed unit (DU) applications. If you think its aesthetics make a statement, just wait until you read more about what’s inside.

Symware 1.0 server first debuted at the 2022 MWC Barcelona. Powered by an Intel® Xeon D Processor the server is now generally available and shipping to mobile network operators worldwide. It is installed in the Rakuten Mobile 4G and 5G networks in Japan with more than 30,000 units being deployed. In addition to its sleek lines, the product is hardened and sized for deployment on utility poles, buildings and remote cabinets.

Symware 2.0 Next Generation Platform Debuts at MWC Barcelona
At this year’s MWC Barcelona Rakuten Symphony and Intel® are showing off the new and improved Symware 2.0 product. One big change is that there are two Symware 2.0 variants: an outdoor model that has been made even more compact than the first generation and an indoor model that is designed for 19” rack in data centers and, due to its shorter depth, it is also well-suited for short-depth racks found in outdoor cabinets.

Both models have extensive automation capabilities that enable remote zero touch provisioning and life cycle management minimizing human installation and updating time and reducing total cost of ownership for MNOs.

Both models also include integrated cell site routing with Class C timing support and up to 24hrs hold over time.

For pole or building deployments, the outdoor unit has an IP67 enclosure that can be installed without a cabinet. The outdoor model is fan-less with an option to add fans , supports fiber connectivity, and can be used in both greenfield and brownfield deployments.

Symware 2.0 server is powered by Intel
Symware 2.0 platform was developed by Rakuten Symphony in collaboration with Intel. The latest version of the product is powered by 4th Gen. Intel® Xeon® Scalable processor that have specific performance and acceleration features for 5G and cloud-based network applications to improve network performance, energy efficiency, and reduce total cost of ownership (TCO).

Specifically, Symware 2.0 server makes use of the 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Edge Enhanced (SPR EE) with Intel® vRAN Boost device. This CPU has specialized vRAN accelerator built in so it can boost capacity without the power and space needed for a discrete accelerator. With 32Core SPR EE CPU, Symware 2.0 supports 27 sectors which 3x the capacity of the first-generation product with a smaller form factor.

Reduced Power Consumption
As a result of 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Edge Enhanced (SPR EE) with Intel® vRAN Boost CPU, the power consumption per sector in Symware 2.0 has decreased by 50% compared to the first-generation product. This reduction not only improves efficiency and cost-effectiveness but also has a positive impact on sustainability by significantly decreasing energy consumption and reducing the network's carbon footprint.

In addition, Symware 2.0 platform utilizes the Intel® FlexRAN™ Reference Architecture for PHY-level wireless access.

The Symware 2.0 product also supports open standards for fronthaul connectivity allowing customers to choose their own radio vendors and utilize different vendors based on the application.

See Symware 2.0 server at MWC Barcelona
When it comes to Symware 2.0 product, seeing is believing and I encourage you to stop by our booth (#2D46) as well as the Intel booth (#3E31) at MWC Barcelona to experience the next generation of RAN technology.

Our show theme is Mobile as a Software and we’ll be demonstrating ways to take the cost out of mobile networks. We’ll have experience zones to share our knowledge, a booth theater, partners in the booth demonstrating their products and a separate partner programme discussing technologies that are disrupting the industry. In addition, several of our executives will take the stage to discuss security, supply chain, ecosystems, metaverse and Open RAN. More details on all of our activities at MWC Barcelona are available on our website.

Symware 2.0 platform joins Open RAN as revolutions in technology that are changing the mobile network. Its sophisticated design communicates the thoughtful functionality, performance, and features that make it the right product to be the foundation of your 4G and 5G Open RAN.