CommScope

CommScope is a Hickory, North Carolina-based network technology company that specializes in the design, manufacture, and installation of hardware infrastructure, as well as support and software intelligence for large-scale wireless networks. The company helps its customers increase bandwidth, maximize existing capacity, improve network performance and availability, and simplify technology migration. CommScope's product portfolio comprises products and services such as wired and wireless systems, cables, broadband devices, distribution and transmission equipment, and WiFi devices used by network services providers.

The company is divided into five segments according to product type: connectivity solutions, mobility solutions, customer-premises equipment, network and cloud, and converged wired and wireless enterprise network products. The connectivity and customer premises-equipment segments generate the greatest share of the company's revenue, and approximately half of the revenue comes from clients in the United States.

CommScope offers the following types of products:

• Antennas
• Broadband and access network systems
• Broadband and video devices
• Cabinets, panels, enclosures, power
• Cable assemblies
• Cable management
• Cables
• Connectors
• Enterprise networking
• Faceplates and boxes
• In-building cellular systems
• Networking systems
• Splitters, combiners and multiplexers
• Structural support, tools and accessories
• Video processing, security and delivery systems

Commscope joined the Evenstar program led by Meta Connectivity to develop a Massive MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) reference design based on O-RAN Alliance interoperability specifications. Massive MIMO improves efficiency of the radio spectrum, increasing network capacity and widening coverage. In addition, the collaboration focused on architectural requirements, open-standard antenna and radio interfaces, and best-practice calibration designs.

As part of the program, a massive MIMO reference design was supplied by Evenstar to provide operators with the option of separating the filter and antenna elements from the radio unit for the purpose of flexibility and to bring implementation options to the market. For its part, Meta Connectivity worked with control unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU) software vendors who managed interoperability testing, while CommScope supported Over-the-Air (OTA) testing and characterization of the antenna within a laboratory environment.

CommScope is invested in two initiatives: Mobile network function virtualization (VRAN) and Open Radio Access Network standardization (Open RAN). The company is involved in the Open RAN (O-RAN) ecosystem through its own research and development activities and external participation in standardization efforts via groups such as the O-RAN Alliance and advocacy organizations such as the Open RAN Policy Coalition. CommScope also supports various government initiatives and legislative proposals to promote federal investment in O-RAN research and development efforts and motivate federal agencies to set up open and interoperable 5G networks in their pilot programs and procurement guidelines.

Colin Bryce, Director of Mobile Network Engineering at CommScope, discusses the company's involvement in the Open RAN market