Telecommunication equipment maker RFHIC is taking part in a consortium between South Korea and the United Kingdom to research 5G Open RAN technologies.
Open RAN seeks to use an open standard for the interface and software used in wireless base stations.
Previously, software and hardware used in base stations were from specific vendors.
Open RAN allows carriers more leeway to build their networks by using diverse vendors.
South Korea and the UK started the program in July and are aiming to develop low-power 5G Open RAN technologies.
They are planning to spend 6 billion won, or around US$5 million, up to March 2024 from September this year for the program.
RFHIC is taking part as a developer of power amplifiers used in base stations.
A UK-based network solution company is leading the consortium and two South Korean companies are taking part, RFHIC and Solid.
RFHIC uses gallium nitride instead of silicon to make its power amplifier.
GaN is more durable and power efficient and is becoming more and more in demand in advanced networks such as 5G because of this.
