Fully Open Edge Cloud

MWC: Rapid.Space to launch edge computing and 5G vRAN resilient to US-China tensions

Rapid.Space is one of the few vRAN equipment manufacturers that delivers tested and guaranteed, end-to-end 5G infrastructure. Rapid.Space introduces EdgePOD, an edge computing server designed for resilience amid growing geopolitical tensions and immunity to the 'Splinternet' - the regulatory chaos of the Internet. Rapid.Space will be exhibiting at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona from 27 February to 2 March 2023 (Hall 1, Stand 1A98).
  • Last Update:2023-02-21
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PRESS RELEASE

Paris, France, February 21, 2023 - Rapid.Space will be exhibiting at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona from 27 February to 2 March 2023 (Hall 1, Stand 1A98). At MWC, Rapid.Space will introduce EdgePOD, an edge computing server designed for resilience amid growing geopolitical tensions and immunity to the 'Splinternet' - the regulatory chaos of the Internet.

Rapid.Space is one of the few vRAN equipment manufacturers able to provide a tested and guaranteed end-to-end 5G infrastructure: radio heads (RU) produced in Europe and Asia by Rapid.Space, baseband servers (BBU), backhaul network, core network, network operating software (OSS/BSS), edge computing services, cloud computing, big data, AI, etc.

Collaborating with Amarisoft (creator of virtualized 5G since 2012) and Nexedi (co-creator of edge computing in 2008), Rapid.Space also cooperates with a large ecosystem of companies expert in virtualized telecommunications or open source hardware: Abside (USA), Accton (Taiwan), AW2S (France), Olimex (Bulgaria), Mitac (Taiwan), Sunwave (China), Viettel High Tech (Vietnam), etc.

Rapid.Space will showcase at MWC, EdgePOD, and the latest iterations of two existing products, Open Radio Station and SlapOS. In addition, Rapid.Space has joined the Eclipse Foundation, the preeminent global community of open source software developers based in Europe, as a member organisation..

Jean-Paul Smets, CEO of Rapid.Space, explains: "EdgePOD is an out-of-the-box edge computing server designed to meet the resilience needs of enterprises for information systems, Industry 4.0 or virtualized 5G networks. It enables enterprises and governments to accelerate their adoption of edge computing so that they can benefit from its proven resiliency benefits in a tense geopolitical environment; undersea cable outages, link congestion, regulatory chaos, etc."

Lu XU, CTO of Nayu Software, Rapid.Space's partner in China, added: "The EdgePOD model showcased at MWC is equipped with a Chinese processor, which makes it immune to U.S. laws. It is the first vRAN equipment on the market based on Chinese technology, as traditional Chinese equipment manufacturers have not developed a product with this technology. It is naturally intended for the Chinese market, a market that has been growing rapidly since the opening of 5G frequencies intended for Industry 4.0 and the realization in China that Chinese equipment manufacturers are lagging behind in the field of virtualized 5G."

Jean-Paul Smets adds, "A version of the EdgePOD based on an American processor (AMD) will also be marketed in the US and a version based on a European processor (NXP) will be marketed in Europe. Rapid.Space's goal with EdgePOD is to offer the best level of assurance in the market for digital resiliency, sovereignty and immunity to all extraterritorial laws, wherever they may come from."

With the release of EdgePOD, Rapid.Space is now the sole vendor of vRAN and edge infrastructure immune to geopolitical tensions and able to implement the "right to internet access", guaranteed by the United Nations since 2016. 

In addition to EdgePOD, Rapid.Space will demonstrate the new version of the Open Radio Station (ORS). Weighing only 2.4 kg with a power consumption of 32W, the ORS allows the creation of a private network or to extend a public network with 3km coverage thanks to a doubled power at 2x1W. The ORS is also available on two new frequencies: B28 (French police frequency) and N79 (NATO frequency). It is an ideal product for police or civil security forces when public operator networks are not available: white zones, public events, ships, etc. It is also used to create private 4G/5G networks in factories or to extend operators' networks in buildings. Combined with Starlink, it can be used to re-establish a backup 4G/5G network in case of natural disasters or conflicts.

The SlapOS software has evolved to include support for the performance indicators (KPIs) of 3GPP, the 4G and 5G standards body. SlapOS now enables the technical operation (OSS) and commercial operation (BSS) of a public telecommunication network based on equipment from multiple vendors. SlapOS is thus the last missing piece in the virtualized network (vRAN) edifice. Deployments are underway at two Tier-1 operators with AW2S, Sunwave and VHT radio heads.

About Rapid.Space

Rapid.Space is a resilient 5G edge cloud operator whose international, Fully Open infrastructure is based on principles of openness, transparency, portability and reversibility: open source software, open hardware and open operating procedures. As a co-founder of the SimpleRAN initiative, a member of the Open Compute Project, Euclidia, EANGTI and the Eclipse Foundation, Rapid.Space strives to be at the forefront of the development of an edge computing infrastructure capable of meeting the challenges of the splinternet, protection of business confidentiality and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Contact

Jean-Paul Smets - PDG
Tel: +33 (0)6 29 02 44 25
Mail: jp (at) rapid.space

Permanent URL of the press release

https://blog.rapid.space/rapidspace-Press.Release.Rapid.Space.MWC23

References and media materials

https://blog.rapid.space/rapidspace-MWC2023

New products showcased at MWC2023

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ORS 2x1W field test

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ORS has more than 3km range
More than 3km range in line of sight

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More than 3km range in line of sight

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Lightweight (2.4kg) ORS can be mounted at the top of a basic mast

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1km range in the city