Telecom Italia has become Europe’s first operator to deploy Huawei’s CloudRAN technology in the southern Italian city of Palermo.

The trial itself will focus on anticipating 5G network architectures, but also proving the capabilities of an ‘intelligent’ 4G networks. The trial itself will be carried out in Palermo on live network radio base stations, following a number of successful trials in Turin TIM Lab, though they are the first European operator to make the step into the real world.

“We are particularly satisfied of launching this trial in Palermo, demonstrating the value of CloudRAN architecture” said Gabriela Styf Sjoman, Head of & TIM Lab. “This innovative technology is part of TIM’s path towards becoming a Digital Telco, securing to its clients a high quality user experience on digital new network technologies – such as CloudRAN – to guarantee customer satisfaction and create value through network solution that are both technologically innovative and efficient.”

Huawei claims the technology will help deliver a faster and more reliable network which is more capable of responding to the growing mobile UBB demand driven, feed by social media and an increased use of data, through various add-on services.

“Huawei is committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators through continuous innovation to meet the requirements for network development,” Yang Chaobin, CMO of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line. “The CloudRAN solution provides innovative network architecture to enhance network cloudification and agility. Huawei has historically enjoyed mutually beneficial cooperation with TIM in the fields of CloudRAN and 4.5G and is set to write new chapters in comprehensive digital transformation and MBB2020 network evolution”.