Satellite TV giant DISH Network has announced plans to collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies in the testing of open and virtualised RAN 5G solutions. Qualcomm is the latest in a series of tech firms enlisted by the wireless market aspirant to assist with its rollout, following a deal with Intel earlier this month. In September DISH selected Nokia to deploy its standalone core software products as part of its planned cloud-native 5G network. The company had previously inked 5G agreements with Fujitsu, Altiostar and VMware.
Discussing the company’s 5G timeline on DISH’s third quarter earnings call, boss Charlie Ergen confirmed: ‘We will have some preliminary small markets in the first quarter [of 2021]. But … it will be the third quarter before we have a major market up and running.’ Earlier this month, Dave Mayo, DISH’s Executive Vice President of Network Development confirmed that DISH’s first 5G cell site is now live in Littleton, Colorado.