Dish joins hands with Qualcomm to promote the construction of 5G RAN platform

(Reuters) - U.S. satellite TV provider Dish Network said on Wednesday it has signed an agreement with Qualcomm Inc to become its latest partner to build a 5G network using an open and cloud-based platform by 2023.

Dish is building its network using a new technology called Open Radio Access Network (RAN), which uses software to run network functions on the cloud, reducing the need for physical equipment.

Dish, which owns a $20 billion portfolio of wireless spectrum, has also partnered with Fujitsu, Nvidia, Altiostar and Mavenir to provide different parts of its network.

Nokia, Ericsson and Huawei have traditionally been the main suppliers of telecom network equipment, but the US ban on Huawei has narrowed the options and forced operators to look for other suppliers.

U.S. technology giants including Qualcomm, Microsoft and Intel hope this will give them a chance to expand their businesses in telecommunications equipment, where they already play a role as suppliers of routers, chips and software.