Airspan Joins Forces With Pavo Group, Targets Defense Sector

Open RAN vendor Airspan Networks has signed an MoU with Turkish based provider of security and defense solutions, Pavo Group.. According to a joint statement released by the two companies, the MoU will focus on integrating 4G and 5G into robust, secure networks, supporting the needs of military, law enforcement, and utility providers. The partnership will initially target the public safety and defense sector, where secure, high-speed communication is essential for mission-critical operations.

The move comes in the wake of numerous public commitments made by the US Department of Defense over the summer in support of Open RAN, bolstering the technology’s credentials as the best solution to meet the communication needs of critical sectors like defense and law enforcement. Indeed, Pavo Group CEO Serkan ALTINIŞIK commented: “By integrating advanced 4G and 5G Open RAN technologies into our defense and utility networks, we can offer unparalleled security, efficiency, and resilience for our clients”. This is the second such announcement made by the Turkish multinational this year, after it announced a strategic cooperation agreement with Parallel Wireless in February.

With the Open RAN market reeling from a dramatic 83% drop in value this year, embattled vendors like Parallel Wireless and Airspan, rescued in April from bankruptcy by private equity firm Fortress Investment Group in a deal worth $85 million, are hoping the growing interest in private networks can secure a path back to profitability. With most industry forecasts agreeing the market is set to be worth between $8 to $10 billion by 2028, the hope seems well placed.

Certainly the access to the Pavo Group’s existing relationships with emergency services, police departments, and national defense bodies afforded to Airspan by this agreement gives some cause for optimism. As Henrik Smith-Petersen, CSMO at Airspan, enthused: “Together, we will develop technologies that meet the growing demands for advanced telecommunications in the security and infrastructure sectors, ensuring resilient and efficient networks for our customers.”