Qualcomm strengthens 5G radio technology with the acquisition of Cellwize

Qualcomm strengthens 5G radio technology with the acquisition of Cellwize

Qualcomm has bolstered its 5G radio ambitions with the acquisition of network automation specialist Cellwize.

The San Diego-based tech giant is a major provider of mobile processors and wireless components to the industry and plans to integrate Cellwize's cloud-native, multi-vendor radio access network (RAN) management and automation platform , in its own 5G portfolio.

Specifically, Qualcomm says the capabilities will speed deployment and simplify management of public and private 5G, while also enabling the development of intelligent edge networks and applications.

Cellwize by Qualcomm

Since 5G networks will be much more complex and support many more users than previous generations of mobile technology, automation is essential if industrial users and mobile operators are to realize the full potential of the technology.

In fact, the scale of many functions exceeds human capabilities, and automation speeds the deployment of new services and supports functions such as network partitioning. CellWize technology supports multiple architectures, including traditional RAN, open RAN, and virtualized RAN (vRAN).

"Global mobile operators and private companies are rolling out 5G networks at an unprecedented rate across industries with the goal of connecting everyone and everything to the cloud," said Durga Malladi, general manager of cellular modems and infrastructure at Qualcomm.

"Adding Cellwize's best-in-class RAN automation technologies strengthens Qualcomm Technologies' ability to drive the development of modern 5G networks, accelerating global adoption of Open RAN, cloud-based cellular infrastructure innovation, and 5G private network deployments.

Industry watchers say the integration of Cellwize's capabilities adds another string to Qualcomm's bow and increases the appeal of its offering.

"Cellwize has built a strong reputation and strong customer base as a custom provider of RAN automation and orchestration solutions," said Richard Webb, director of network infrastructure at analytics firm CCS Insight.

“In the unbundled architecture of a 5G mobile network, these are increasingly important capabilities, effectively 'piecing together the puzzle' of network elements and functions provided by multiple vendors. Qualcomm's acquisition of Cellwize makes a lot of sense.

“By acquiring Cellwise, Qualcomm has strengthened its position in serving public and private mobile networks. RAN automation and orchestration are essential in large-scale mobile networks and especially small cell-centric deployments. These are tools that system integrators can take advantage of in environments such as private networks. »

Ofir Zemer, who was CEO of Cellwize and took on a new role as vice president of product management at Qualcomm following the acquisition.