Traditional mobile networks are built like proprietary appliances. The radio hardware, baseband processing, and network management from a vendor like Ericsson or Nokia come as a tightly integrated stack — you don’t mix and match components, and you certainly don’t run third-party software on the base station. Open RAN changes that, and the implications for edge computing and industrial IoT are more significant than most discussions of the technology acknowledge.
What Open RAN Actually Is
Open RAN stands for Open Radio Access Network. The core idea is disaggregation: separating the radio unit (the antenna hardware), the distributed unit (baseband processing), and the central unit (higher-layer functions) into standardised, interoperable components that can be sourced from different vendors. The O-RAN Alliance, which drives the specifications, adds another layer — an open, programmable intelligence controller (the RAN Intelligent Controller or RIC) that can run third-party applications to optimise network behaviour in real time.
In a conventional network, there’s no concept of “running an app on the base station.” In an Open RAN architecture, the RIC is essentially an application platform sitting close to the radio. That proximity to the radio — and to the devices connecting to it — is where edge computing comes in.
Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) on Open RAN means running compute workloads within the radio access network itself, not in a distant data centre. Latency drops dramatically when computation happens at the base station rather than being routed to a cloud. For many industrial IoT applications — time-sensitive manufacturing automation, autonomous guided vehicles in warehouses, real-time video analytics — that latency difference is the difference between a system that works and one that doesn’t.
The UK Deployment Picture in 2026
UK mobile operators have been actively trialling and deploying Open RAN components since 2023. Vodafone’s Open RAN deployment across rural sites in Wales and Scotland demonstrated that the architecture works at scale outside controlled test environments. Virgin Media O2 and BT (EE) have both committed to significant Open RAN expansion in their network rollout plans.
The UK government has been unusually active here. DSIT’s Telecoms Diversification Programme has funded Open RAN testbeds, and the government’s stated goal of reducing dependency on Huawei (equipment from which is being removed from core networks) aligns directly with the Open RAN proposition of vendor diversification. The Shared Rural Network programme, which is extending coverage to 95% of the UK’s landmass, includes Open RAN components.
For enterprise buyers, this matters because Open RAN is now a realistic option for private 5G deployments — not just a theoretical future state. The combination of Open RAN disaggregation and spectrum access (via shared access licences through Ofcom) means organisations can deploy private 5G networks using best-of-breed components rather than being locked into a single vendor’s system.
What This Enables for IoT
The practical implications for IoT system design are substantial.
Ultra-low latency at scale. Applications that need sub-10ms round-trip times — robotic control systems, haptic feedback, safety-critical alerting — can now get those latencies from a 5G radio deployed at or near the industrial site, with MEC compute co-located at the base station. This wasn’t practical with conventional cloud-reliant architectures.
Local processing for sensitive data. Data from industrial sensors and cameras can be processed locally, at the edge of the radio network, without leaving the facility. For manufacturers handling proprietary process data or healthcare providers with patient monitoring devices, this is a significant compliance and security improvement over sending everything to a public cloud.
Dynamic network slicing with AI optimisation. The RIC in an Open RAN architecture can adjust network behaviour in response to what’s happening on the network right now. An IoT deployment that has a mix of low-bandwidth sensors and high-bandwidth video streams can have those traffic types treated differently — the video gets lower priority than a safety alarm, for instance — with that policy enforced dynamically by the RIC rather than statically configured.
Third-party applications in the network. This is genuinely new. xApps (real-time RIC applications) and rApps (non-real-time applications) can be developed by third parties and deployed on the Open RAN intelligence controller. Industrial IoT platform vendors are building these — applications that can see network-level telemetry and act on it to improve application performance or detect anomalies.
Security Considerations
Open RAN’s openness is also its main security concern. A conventional proprietary network has a well-understood threat surface — you’re trusting Nokia or Ericsson’s software stack, and they’re responsible for its security. An Open RAN architecture introduces multiple vendors, open interfaces, and a virtualised software stack running on commodity hardware.
The O-RAN Alliance has published security threat models, and NCSC has issued guidance on Open RAN security for UK deployments. The key risks are interface exposure (the standardised APIs between components create well-documented attack surfaces), supply chain risks from multiple vendors, and the operational complexity of running what is essentially a distributed software system rather than a hardware appliance.
None of these are arguments against Open RAN — the benefits are real — but they are arguments for treating network security rigorously, particularly for private 5G deployments in operational technology environments where a network compromise could affect physical processes.
Private 5G Deployment Patterns
For organisations considering Open RAN-based private 5G, the realistic options in 2026 are:
Managed service from a systems integrator — companies like Mavenir, Rakuten Symphony, and a growing number of UK-based integrators will design, deploy, and manage an Open RAN private network. You get the benefits of the architecture without needing in-house radio engineering expertise. This is the right choice for most industrial deployments.
Spectrum options — shared access licensing in the 3.8–4.2 GHz band (available from Ofcom for specific geographic areas) is the most common route for private 5G in the UK. CBRS-style shared access frameworks are evolving and worth watching.
Integrated with existing IT infrastructure — Open RAN-based private 5G connects to your existing network and edge compute infrastructure, which means it needs to be designed alongside your IT team, not as a separate OT project. The distinction between IT and OT networks is increasingly blurred in Open RAN deployments.
The technology is no longer experimental. For IoT deployments that need guaranteed low latency, local data processing, or coverage in environments where Wi-Fi is impractical, Open RAN-based private 5G is a credible and increasingly cost-competitive option.